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MIX/FPR Luis Alberto Sanchez Ortiz
5820.1Colombia Land of Diversity
US$11.00/Lb
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13
Bids
Winner: saza coffee
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Luis Alberto Sánchez Ortiz was born on February 22, 1984, in Florencia, Caquetá, to José Alirio Sánchez Sogamoso and María Ninfa Ortiz Tapiero, who had migrated from Ortega, Tolima in search of better opportunities. After spending five years in San Guillermo, a rural area in Florencia, the family was displaced by violence and relocated to the Huila Department, eventually settling in the corregimiento of Descanso in Garzón.
Luis Alberto grew up in a large, close-knit family of seven siblings, including Luz Mary, Lisney Juliana, José Elías, Milena, Marisol, and Julián David. From a young age, he learned the value of hard work and teamwork. Together with his family, Luis Alberto embarked on a journey to build a future in coffee cultivation. They bought their first property, “Las Palmas,” a modest piece of land with a house on the brink of collapse, located in the vereda Nuevo Horizonte. With continued effort, they acquired “El Diviso” in the neighboring vereda El Descanso, and more recently, “La Profunda” in vereda Milagros, about 4.5 kilometers away. This last property, named after Luis Alberto’s sister Luz Mary, is where they currently process all their coffee.
The path was fraught with challenges. For many years, the family sold their coffee in its wet form due to a lack of processing infrastructure. Luis Alberto, however, harbored a dream of producing high-quality coffee. Realizing that achieving this dream required both the right infrastructure and specialized knowledge, he embarked on a journey of education. He sought training from the Huila Coffee Committee, the Sena, and various coffee-related companies. Luis Alberto understood that producing a premium coffee required more than just technical skills—it required a holistic approach to managing resources and a commitment to excellence.
He began by refining his skills and knowledge, focusing on best practices in agriculture, coffee processing, and sustainability. Luis Alberto joined the “ACENH” association, which focuses on specialty coffee, and intensified his training. He became deeply involved in implementing good agricultural practices and began exploring ways to integrate technology to enhance sustainability.
In June, Luis Alberto seized the opportunity to participate in the “Colombia Tierra de Diversidad” coffee contest. He entered with a lot of 320 kilos of parchment coffee, showcasing his dedication and meticulous approach. His preparation involved innovative practices, such as using the Cromacafe (a tool for optimal coffee picking) and the Mediverdes (a method for sorting coffee). He also adopted a more refined fermentation process, conducting batch washes separately and fermenting each batch for 40 hours.
Luis Alberto’s submission was a blend of varieties from different farms: 112 kilos of Colombia variety from “El Diviso,” 112 kilos of Castillo variety, and 96 kilos of Caturra variety from “La Profunda.” This meticulous selection process was designed to highlight the unique attributes of each variety and achieve a balanced, high-quality coffee.
The news of qualifying among the top 55 lots in the competition was a significant achievement for Luis Alberto and his family. It was a testament to their collective effort, hard work, and commitment to quality. Luis Alberto reflects on the journey with pride and acknowledges that while there is still much to improve, such as renewing susceptible coffee varieties and refining agricultural practices, the key to success lies in the person behind the process. “It’s not the arrow but the archer,” he often says, emphasizing that the quality of coffee is determined by the care and skill of the cultivator.
Looking ahead, Luis Alberto dreams of further enhancing his farm’s infrastructure. He hopes to improve his home for his family and build an eco-friendly processing facility with filters to protect water and soil. His aspirations are rooted in a deep sense of responsibility towards his family, his community, and the environment.
As the manager of this thriving family business, Luis Alberto is supported by a dedicated team, including his family members who continue to play vital roles in the operation. Together, they are committed to making thoughtful decisions guided by their values and supported by organizations like the National Federation of Coffee Growers, Sena, and private companies. Their collective efforts contribute to the pride of being Colombian coffee producers and the aspiration to make their mark on the world stage.
| Boxes: | 10 |
|---|---|
| Variety: | Castillo/Colombia/Caturra |
| Weight: | 529.1 |
| Process: | Washed/Fermented |
| Region: | Huila |
| Rank: | MIX/FPR |
| Cupping Notes: | Floral (4), Dried Fruit (3), Mandarin Orange (3), Apricot (2), Berry (2), Black Tea (2), Brown Spice (2), Chocolate (2), Dark Chocolate (2), Fruity (2), Orange (2), Tropical Fruit (2), Acetic Acid, Body/Fullness, Caramel, Citric Acid, Citrus Fruit, Cloying, Colling well, Creamy, Fermented, Green Apple, Honey, Jackfruit, Jasmine Honeysuckle, Juicy, Lemon, Lemon juice, Light flowery hints, Mango, Molasses, Natural, Overall Sweet, Papaya, Plum, Prune, Raspberry, Red Apple, Sweet Bread Pastry, Vanilla, Yellow fruits |
| Box Weight: | 24 kg |