In 2022 The Barn visited brothers Elias and Shady to see the amazing innovation they are undertaking at their farm in Tolima. Cupping their diverse range of coffees was a true exploration of Colombian terroir. A washed coffee with a difference, El Vergel is their flagship lot: a deeply sweet espresso with dynamic character.
In the cup, this is a Colombian with real depth. Leaning towards sweetness, we find the pleasing notes of caramel and vanilla. Hints of berry and bubblegum add dynamic complexity, with a gentle malic acidity on the finish.
El Vergel is a family operation of two brothers, Elias and Shady, and their mother Marta. Located in Fresno, Tolima, they started as an avocado farm. In 2012 both brothers saw the opportunity to utilise their land to grow specialty coffee. Situated on the slopes of the snowcapped Nevado del Ruiz volcano, the farm benefits from a unique microclimate. Starting with Caturra and Castillo, it was not long before they started expanding their collection of varietals to fully explore the amazing terroir at their disposal.
Washed coffees from Colombia have long been part of our portfolio, but this one is a little bit different. The Bayter brothers have developed their own hybrid process where fresh cherries are fermented for a prolonged period before washing. This captures some of the character of natural processing whilst retaining a beautifully clean profile. At the farm, a water treatment facility allows water to be recycled from the washing process and returned to the environment.
