Gardelli- El Desarrollo (Colombia)

El Desarrollo – Colombia

Cup Profile: [Tasting notes to be filled]

Experience the exceptional El Desarrollo, a meticulously sourced and expertly roasted specialty coffee from Colombia. Grown at high altitudes, this remarkable lot showcases a harmonious balance of vibrant acidity, rich sweetness, and a well-rounded body, delivering a refined and complex cup.

Crafted through a [Processing Method] and cultivated from [Variety], El Desarrollo reflects the dedication of Colombian farmers in producing high-quality coffee. With its structured mouthfeel and layered flavor profile, it is an excellent choice for both espresso and filter brewing.

Roasting & Availability

Each batch is carefully roasted by Rubens Gardelli using a customized solid-drum roaster, ensuring precision and consistency. We roast to order on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, guaranteeing peak freshness upon delivery. (Please note: We only ship whole beans.)

Brewing Recommendations

To bring out the full complexity of this lot, we suggest the following filter brewing methods:

V60 Style (Conical Brewer)

• Coffee: 17g
• Grind: Comandante 18 clicks (medium)
• Water: 250g (40 TDS) at 90°C
• Filter: Cafec Abaca+
• Brew Time: 2:40 min
• Final Strength: 1.46 TDS

Flat-Bed Brewer (Kalita, Stagg [X])

• Coffee: 17g
• Grind: Comandante 16 clicks (medium)
• Water: 250g (40 TDS) at 90°C
• Filter: Stagg [X], Fellow
• Brew Time: 2:34 min
• Final Strength: 1.49 TDS

Whether you prefer the clarity of a V60 pour-over or the balanced extraction of a flat-bed brewer, El Desarrollo offers an immersive tasting experience that highlights the rich Colombian terroir and the expertise of its producers.

THE STORY BEHIND

The municipality of Gigante, located in the center-east of Huila department, is a picturesque region, nestled between the majestic West Andes and the Matambo Hill, alongside the flowing waters of the Magdalena River. Blessed with abundant natural beauty, Gigante boasts lush forests, meandering rivers, and vibrant streams, though, in the recent years, it has been facing challenges due to climate change and unsustainable land practices.

One of the area's treasures is the El Desarollo Association, a collective of over 220 small and medium-sized coffee growers situated on the western slopes of the Eastern Andes. Spanning 41 villages, this association comprises 169 men and 51 women, whose ages range from 25 to 78 years old. These resilient families derive their livelihoods primarily from coffee farming, supplemented by cultivating small crops for both sustenance and sale. The predominant coffee varietals cultivated on their volcanic soils are Caturra and Colombia, which both thrive in an environment blessed with an abundant annual rainfall at the altitude ranging from 1200 to 1500 masl.

Gigante's economy is primarily agricultural, and coffee production is its cornerstone. Historically known as the cocoa capital of Huila, the municipality saw a shift after the construction of the Quimbo hydroelectric dam submerged extensive cocoa plantations, diminishing cocoa's economic significance. Today, Gigante's population of approximately 33,000 inhabitants continues to embrace agriculture, particularly coffee cultivation, as a vital source of income, albeit facing economic challenges where agricultural earnings often fall below minimum wage standards.

THE FERMENTATION PROCESS

Coffee is harvested during the main crop season from April to June.
It undergoes a traditional washed process, where it is pulped, fermented, and then washed before being dried on small patios.