Next up in our remarkable list of Host Sponsors is Forest Coffee, based at the El Vergel farm in Fresno, Tolima. Here, producers have devoted years to growing high-quality specialty coffee, drawing on generations of Colombian coffee knowledge and experience.

Forest Coffee grows 28 different varieties of coffee, using both traditional processing techniques and more experimental methods like Koji fermentation to reach the peak of specialty coffee production.

Let’s take a look at the company, its incredible farm, and how Sourcing Trip Experience attendees will benefit from spending time with the Forest Coffee team.

Pushing the boundaries of coffee processing

Elías Bayter Montenegro is the Processing Director at Forest Coffee. He explains that Colombia is a unique coffee origin, benefitting from ideal geography, topography, and a climate conducive to high-quality coffee production.

“This gives us infinite possibilities in terms of developing coffee profiles,” he explains. “Additionally, it’s a unique country where the landscapes change from city to city.”

The company asserts that its purpose is to promote Colombian specialty coffee grown using innovative processing techniques.

“Today, El Vergel uses more than 30 processing protocols,” Elías says. “Being aligned with sustainable techniques over time, focusing on the preservation of native fauna, and promoting shade growing help to mitigate deforestation and the effects of global warming.”

What can STE attendees expect from Forest Coffee?

Elías says that attendees will “live the whole experience” of Colombian specialty coffee production.

“They will be able to walk around and learn about more than 28 varieties of exotic coffees,” he says.” They’ll also get to process coffees in our processing plant, using innovative techniques like Koji fermentation.

“Finally, they’ll spend time with extraordinary people while enjoying an incomparable landscape and a gastronomy that represents Colombia!”

He elaborates that attendees will learn about the entire coffee production process, from planting seedlings to roasting.

“Additionally, they will be able to see how the Colombian coffee industry has transitioned from traditional coffee production to specialty production, as we have it today,” he adds.

Learn more about the Sourcing Trip Experience

We carefully design our Sourcing Trip Experience to guarantee that roasters from all over the world engage directly with some of the best Colombian specialty coffee producers.

First and foremost, the STE is about engaging with producers at origin. As such, attendees will gain first-person insight into Colombian specialty coffee production by exploring El Vergel and its extensive processing facilities. Here at PRF, we aim to generate new connections between roasters and producers, ultimately benefiting the Colombian coffee industry as a whole.

“The most important thing is the exchange of ideas and the support this brings,” Elías concludes. “With this, we have generated a community that is not only a business, but could even be called a family.”

“Family values, sacrifice, perseverance, effort, and discipline have made our dreams come true, allowing us to share an excellent quality product with the world.”

Some example activities that you can expect during the STE include:

• Farm tours, which will cover a range of different varieties and producer profiles
• Tours of wet and dry mills, where participants will see sorting machinery, depulpers, fermentation tanks, and other key equipment in operation
• Cupping sessions arranged directly with producers
• Roundtable discussions on industry challenges from both producer and roaster perspectives
• Networking opportunities with potential sourcing partners and roasters from around the world
• Organized dinners with local specialities/dishes

Interested in attending the Colombia Sourcing Trip Experience? Buy a ticket here or reach out to our STE Coordinator at beatriz@producerroasterforum.com. Want to learn more about PRF Colombia 2023? Sign up to our newsletter to receive the latest announcements, tips, networking invitations, and more.