Colombia - Javier Rubio

Javier Rubio is from a traditional coffee farming family in Casanare, Colombia, and has been involved in coffee for as long as he can remember. He owns the farm El Libano which is 9 hectares in size with 7 hectares being assigned to coffee cultivation. El Libano is located in Gaitania, Tolima at 1750 m.a.s.l. Javier mainly grows Caturra, Castillo, and Variedad Colombia, but in 2018 he also started growing Geisha and Tabi. Due to the climate and altitude conditions on his farm, coffee grows quite slowly which leads to sweet and juicy cup profiles. Besides coffee, he also grows plantain and beans.

One of Javier’s earliest memories on the farm is helping his parents to plant seedlings. Javier showed a keen interest in this and other areas around the farm, so his parents involved him in all stages of the harvest. This started Javier’s love for coffee which has seen him working on coffee farms his entire life.

After living in Casanare for most of his youth, Javier moved to Tolima in 1990. After living there for four years, Javier was given the opportunity to buy El Libano. Today, Javier, his son and his daughter-in-law work together to manage all the duties on the farm. During the main harvest, Javier provides jobs for his local community but says that sometimes it can be difficult to find labor. However, his neighbors support each other during this time to pick coffee.

Javier uses organic practices on his farm and is organically certified. As Javier is a very experienced farmer, he has a detailed understanding of how to get the best out of his coffee and how to care for the soil. He is also dedicated to sharing his knowledge and experience with others in his local community to help enhance their farming practices. In the past, Javier has entered his coffee into various coffee competitions. In 2008, his coffee placed third in the Cup of Excellence.

When he has spare time, Javier likes to go to town and meet with friends. He also enjoys shopping from other local food producers and sharing this with his family.

This coffee was grown by Javier Rubio at the farm El Libano. This coffee was carefully hand-picked in order to select only the ripest cherries and then hand sorted to remove any defects. The coffee was sundried on raised beds in temperature controlled conditions until the ideal moisture content is achieved.

San Bernardo varietal is a natural mutation of Typica originated in Guatemala. It is a very rare varietal to come across in Colombia. Trees are even smaller than Caturra or Castillo and not resistant to leaf rust. The yield is low, and the cup profile is quite unique, complex with floral notes, spices, and a medium body. 

Recipes 

Espresso: 18 grams / 35 ml / 36 seconds

Filter: 18g / 300ml / 2:45

Taste Notes

Damson Jam, Cherry Cola,  Dark Chocolate