Villamaría is a municipality in Colombia's Caldas department, known for its abundant water sources and natural resources. Corozal is the highest area within Villamaría, situated near the Otun lagoon, just a short 25-minute drive from Finca La Aurora, Villamaría's buying station. This area is also known as Tierra Fria, or the Cold Land, where some farms are located as high as 2100 metres above sea level. The unique combination of high altitude and cool weather creates a fascinating microclimate.
The drying station “Jamaica" in Chinchiná, Caldas, processes coffee from 30 to 50 producers in the Villarazo area, specialising in washed, honey, and natural lots. The station's lower altitude allows for better processing of honey and natural coffees, aided by dehydrators and mechanical drying systems. In the past, Villamaría's producers were promised higher prices and the purchase of their entire crop by big institutions, but these promises were never kept, which caused a loss of trust.
The importer we are working with here, Raw Material, have done great work in the area, ensuring better prices and reduced labour by selling the unprocessed coffee to the Jamaica drying station.
Anoxic Natural
Natural processed coffee is when the coffee cherries are left to dry on raised beds in the sun, during which time, fermentation occurs. In anoxic processing, sometimes called anaerobic, this fermentation happens in sealed vessels. Oxygen is removed from the tanks storing the coffee and a valve allows the escape of carbon dioxide. while preventing any oxygen from entering. While almost all coffee undergoes some fermentation, this method allows the farmer to control how it occurs.
