Colombia La Cristalina (Natural)

12oz Bag

Red Currant, Mandarin Orange, Creme Brulee

Region:  Caldas

Producer:  Luis Jose Valdez

Variety:  Caturra

Process:  Natural

Finca La Cristalina is part of Cafe Cuatro Generaciones, operated by Luis Jose Valdes and named for four generations of his family’s involvement in coffee production. Together, the Valdes family farms—Parana, La Cristalina, and San Pablo—have 421,000 coffee trees, including 142,000 at Finca La Cristalina. Their post-harvest registration system allows each lot to be fully traceable.

Located in Caldas, part of Colombia’s Eje Cafetero (Coffee Axis), the coffee grows in cool, cloud-covered Andean terrain at around 1,650 meters above sea level.

For this Natural process, ripe cherries are carefully sorted, fermented whole, and slowly dried to promote even drying and preserve the coffee’s fruit-forward character.

Produced by Luis Jose Valdez in the Caldas region of Colombia, this Colombia La Cristalina (Natural) offers a distinct expression of the Caturra varietal. Grown at 1650 masl, the coffee undergoes a natural process, a method often associated with increased body and pronounced fruit-forward characteristics. While Colombia · Caldas is frequently recognized for its diverse microclimates, this specific lot highlights the interplay between traditional processing and the inherent qualities of the bean.

When evaluating the profile, which features notes of red currant, mandarin orange, and creme brulee, it can be helpful to reference a flavor wheel to better identify the nuances of these bright, citrus-toned acidity and sweet, caramelized undertones. By utilizing natural processing, the producer emphasizes the inherent sugars of the cherry, resulting in a cup that balances vibrant fruit acidity with a rich, dessert-like finish. This selection serves as a compelling example of how regional terroir and careful post-harvest handling shape the final experience in the cup.