El Meson Fall Harvest, Colombia

El Meson embodies the vibrant spirit of a new generation in Colombian coffee farming. At the heart of their work is a remarkable variety called Pink Bourbon. Despite its name, it’s not a Bourbon at all. With its cherries ripening to a distinctive orange-pink hue, this variety is a recent migrant from Ethiopia. This harvest has beautiful notes of grapefruit, tangerine, and honey florals. 

In October 2024, we had the privilege of visiting Finca El Meson, where Luz Divia Fierro, affectionately known as “Sandy,” and her husband Elpidio (“Pillo”) are cultivating something truly special. On land that once held cattle, they’ve built a thriving coffee farm with over 46,000 Pink Bourbon trees.

From the very first cupping, their coffee stopped us in our tracks. The clarity, the balance, and especially the delicate floral notes were striking and surprising — these flavors are rarely found with such consistency. It was immediately clear that this quality was not just luck but the outcome of meticulous care of Sandy and Pillo: from handpicking each cherry to the slow, patient drying process on rooftop beds.

But what moved us as deeply as the coffee itself was their story. Sandy and Pillo represent a new generation of producers in southern Huila. While rooted in family traditions, they are boldly carving out their own path with vision and intention. Their farm is a world of its own, a living ecosystem where alongside coffee they grow plantains, yucca, and sugarcane, raise cattle, and are raising their three children on the very same land. It’s a model of sustainability, built on heritage and innovation.

Of course, producing coffee of this caliber takes more than passion, it takes people. Skilled pickers hike steep hillsides, harvesting cherry by cherry. Yet too often, these pickers remain the invisible backbone of coffee - underpaid, overlooked, and left out of the protections and benefits that should come with their work. That’s why, when we learned about The Pickers Project, we committed to paying higher prices for El Meson’s coffee.

The Pickers Project is a not-for-profit organization with a threefold goal of ending worker exploitation in coffee, solving farmers' labor issues, and improving quality. This program helps provide fair wages, legal protections, healthcare, and training, ensuring that the people behind exceptional coffees receive the recognition and dignity they’ve long been denied. Supporting The Pickers Project feels like a natural extension of what’s already in the cup, and it serves as a reminder that extraordinary coffee and the people behind it go hand in hand. When you buy El Meson in our cafes or purchase a bag to brew at home, you’re not just buying great coffee, you’re directly supporting the very people who worked hard to bring it to you. 

This is our fourth year working with El Meson, and we consider this a long-term relationship rooted in trust, care, and shared values. Sandy and Pillo’s coffee is more than just delicious, it’s inspiring.

The El Meson Fall Harvest, sourced from the Huila region of Colombia, represents a meticulous collaboration between producers Luz Divia Fierro and Elpidio. This specific lot features the Pink Bourbon varietal, a plant type often celebrated by enthusiasts for its unique balance of sweetness and acidity. Roasted by George Howell Coffee, the profile highlights bright, citrus-forward characteristics, specifically grapefruit and tangerine, underscored by delicate honey florals.

When exploring coffees with such distinct aromatic profiles, it is helpful to reference the flavor wheel to better identify the nuances between citrus acidity and floral sweetness. While Pink Bourbon is frequently noted for its complex, layered cup profile, the specific terroir of Huila often contributes to the clarity and vibrancy found in these harvests. This offering serves as a refined example of how careful cultivation and precise roasting can elevate the inherent qualities of a single-varietal lot.