Monkaaba

Monkaaba was founded in 2020 by Esnaider Ortega Gomez and Didier Ortega. Esnaider formerly worked for a larger exporter, but could see that a greater level of transparency, fairness and commitment was possible in the supply chain. In collaboration with Brendan Adams of Semilla, now Monkaaba’s import partner, they set about building their vision.

Esnaider grew up in a household that valued support, community and collaboration. Monkaaba has been built on these values from the start. His father has always been a coffee producer, but instead of seeing others as competition, he has sought to build a community around coffee production, even helping some of his former pickers with loans to purchase their first land.

Esnaider and Didier started together with a small group of 6 families, basing their operation out of the family home outside of San Agustin, in Southern Huila. Since then, Monkaaba has grown steadily; for the 2025 harvest they worked together with 80 families around San Agustin, and moved into their own bodega in town.

Transparency is a key element of Monkaaba. Producers, even those who don’t work with the project, can bring their coffee, cup it blind with the team, and get feedback on how they could improve. Those who work in the bodega are producers themselves, controlling each stage of the process from farm to export, and ensuring everything remains accessible for members of the project. As producers themselves, the Monkaaba team understands the issues and day to day challenges of this work, and aim to support in any way they can.

The Semilla team introduced us to Monkaaba last year, and together we discussed this larger lot for our seasonal selection. We were looking for a high quality Pink Bourbon lot, but needed a volume larger than most smallholder farmers in San Agustin produce. Didier and Esnaider suggested combining the work of several top producers of Pink Bourbon, allowing us to pay micro-lot prices and secure micro-lot quality, at greater volume. The producers were paid far above the local FNC pricing; 3.7 million pesos per carga of parchment, over 1 million pesos above the average FNC price during 2025. This lot therefore reflects the flavour profile of top Pink Bourbons from southern Huila, with crisp floral aromas, bright red fruit, and a juicy balance.

The producers behind this lot are:

Hamitth Burbano Jamir Burbano Wilmer Galindez Marleny Galindez Emiliana Burbano Harold Olmeyder

Sourced from the renowned San Agustin, Southern Huila region of Colombia, this Monkaaba lot showcases the distinct potential of the Pink Bourbon varietal. Cultivated by the Monkaaba producers and roasted by Dayglow, the coffee is characterized by crisp floral aromas, bright red fruit, and a juicy balance. While Pink Bourbon is often celebrated for its unique hybrid profile, the specific terroir of Southern Huila frequently contributes to the vibrant acidity and sweetness found in these high-quality lots.

When evaluating the complexity of such coffees, enthusiasts often reference the flavor wheel to better articulate the nuances between floral aromatics and fruit-forward acidity. This particular offering serves as a compelling example of how careful processing and regional expertise can elevate the inherent qualities of the Bourbon lineage, resulting in a cup that is both structured and expressive.