Los Nogales - Typica Virtuoso

MEET THE PRODUCER | Established by patriarch Ricardo Hernández in 1952, Los Nogales is a storied coffee farm located on the hills of Pitalito. Here, the Hernandez family have spent decades striving to combine tradition with innovation in order to produce some of the best specialty coffee in Huila. Ricardo and his wife, Concepción, welcomed eight children in that very countryside while building their dream—but it was the baby of the family, Ricaurte Hernández, who stood out as the one destined to take over the family business. Ricaurte was a born entrepreneur, in love with the land and obsessed with innovation. Together with his wife, Suldery, he set about building a bonafide coffee empire in Huila—one he hoped his own children would love and shepherd someday.

Today, the farm is stewarded by Oscar Hernández, a third generation producer who is following in his grandfather's footsteps and championing his father's efforts. Like his dad, Oscar remains dedicated to modernization and innovative processing techniques. His own background in environmental management has led Oscar to emphasize sustainable farming practices at Los Nogales as well, helping to transform the farm into a modern, sustainable coffee powerhouse that will stand ready for the next generation of capable Hernández hands.

TRUST THE PROCESS | This coffee undergoes a signature and proprietary process. Los Nogales uses a specific yeast strain to ferment Virtuoso, which combines with thermal shock processing and oxidation to create a one-of-a-kind fermentation profile.

TAKE A SIP | Big round red fruits, super duper sweet, really complex, tropical, really like a fruit cup. Cherry, pear, mango, peach, white sangria, really great acidity that’s so vibrant, which you really don’t expect cuz the nose smells heavy and deep, but it’s both those things together. Starts cherry, gets into tropicals, then finishes like high quality chocolate ganache.

Don’t be deceived by the nose—while this coffee throws a heavy and deep aroma, one sip unveils a realm of vibrant fresh fruit. Big, round, red fruit greets you up front, and what starts as cherry opens up to a fruit cocktail. Peach and grape yield to mango and sweet white grape, before veering into a sweet, chocolate-forward finish, reminding us of a dark chocolate ganache.

Origin | Pitalito, Huila, Colombia

Producer | Oscar Hernandez

Farm | Los Nogales

Process | Advanced

Variety | Castillo, Typica

Elevation | 1870–2000 MASL

Produced by Oscar Hernandez in Pitalito, Huila, the Los Nogales - Typica Virtuoso represents a sophisticated approach to the Castillo varietal. Grown at elevations between 1870 and 2000 masl, this Colombian coffee from Black & White Coffee Roasters utilizes an advanced processing technique to push the boundaries of traditional flavor profiles. While standard washed coffees often highlight clean acidity, advanced processing methods can significantly alter the cellular structure of the bean, often resulting in heightened sweetness and complex, fruit-forward characteristics.

This specific lot from Colombia · Pitalito, Huila showcases a vibrant array of notes, including cherry, pear, mango, peach, white sangria, grape, and chocolate ganache. When evaluating such a diverse spectrum of flavors, referencing a flavor wheel can be a helpful tool for identifying the nuanced transitions between the bright stone fruit acidity and the deeper, decadent finish of the ganache.