Francy Elena Rivera Quiñonez began helping her husband on their coffee farm in central Cauca 13 years ago. In 2017, with hopes of increasing opportunities for her family, Dona Francy acquired her own one-hectare plot of land, San Miguel. She restored the land and began planting coffee, eventually producing enough to sell it on her own. The additional income from her farm has allowed the family to build a home and invest in an education for their son.

This lot is a selection of Castillo cherries, a variety that is resistant to coffee leaf rust and was introduced to Colombian farmers in 2005 — it is now the most commonly planted variety in the country. Over time, smallholder producers like Dona Francy have helped improve the quality perception of Castillo by selectively picking only the ripest, deep-red cherries and processing the coffee with meticulous care.

Shot specs: 18g in / 46-48g out / 33-35 seconds
  • Country Colombia
  • Flavor Profile Caramel + Stone Fruit

The details

  • Country Colombia
  • Processing Method Washed
  • Drying Method Raised Bed
  • Harvest November - December 2023
  • Direct Trade Partner Since 2015

How To Brew

We recommend starting with a 1:18 coffee-to-water ratio, which provides an excellent total extraction level and maximizes flavor pulled out of the ground coffee. For our single origin coffees we recommend a pour over method either on a Chemex, V60 or Kalita Wave on a 5 or 6 grind setting if you are ordering from intelligentsia.com.

Recommended Method Pour Over

  1. 01.
    Boil Water 205 - 212 F
  2. 02.
    Weigh Coffee 1g of coffee per 18g of water
  3. 03.
    Drop In Filter Add filter to equipment
  4. 04.
    Grind Coffee Grind coffee and add to filter
  5. 05.
    Add Water Add water in stages
  6. 06.
    Remove Filter Enjoy your coffee!
Image of pour over demonstration
    • Image of two growers hugging in field
      Image of two growers hugging in field
    • Image of the sky and mountains landscape
      Image of the sky and mountains landscape
    • Image of growers sorting coffee beans
      Image of growers sorting coffee beans

    Why We're Different

    • Intelligentsia coffee buyers travel year-round working with a network of farmers. From the farm, coffee arrives at the roasting works in Chicago, where coffee professionals cup, grade, and release over 50 single-origins and blends annually.

    • Intelligentsia Direct Trade means partnering with people who obsess about quality as much as we do, and building meaningful relationships with farmers. Today, the Intelligentsia Direct Trade community includes more than 50 partners in 14 countries.

    • A quarter-century of obsession with quality, more than 15 years of sourcing great coffee the right way, and an authoritative point of view on how to elevate coffee make Intelligentsia a trusted partner on your coffee journey.

Colombia San Miguel Castillo SOE
Colombia San Miguel Castillo