Finca El Mirador, Washed Espresso - Colombia

Elkin Guzman is widely recognised as one of Colombia's most innovative coffee producers. He is the steward of El Mirador, a family farm with more than 70 years of history, inherited from his mother, Fanny Vargas. With a background in Agricultural Engineering from the University of Cauca, Elkin combines academic knowledge with generations of coffee-growing experience, taking a thoughtful, research-driven approach to every harvest.

At El Mirador, innovation begins with curiosity. Inspired by the work of Brazilian agro-engineer Dr Flávio Borém, Elkin has spent years refining fermentation and drying techniques that enhance a coffee's natural character while maintaining clarity and balance. Among his most distinctive innovations is the Natural-Hydro-Honey process, where ripe cherries are first dried as a natural, then carefully rehydrated, depulped and finished as a honey process. The result is a coffee with remarkable complexity, sweetness and depth, unlike anything produced through conventional methods.

Equally important is Elkin's commitment to the wider coffee community. He actively shares his knowledge with neighbouring producers, believing the future of specialty coffee depends on investing in both people and place. By promoting sustainable farming, healthy soils and continual education, he is helping ensure that future generations see coffee not simply as a livelihood, but as a profession built on skill, innovation and pride.

Every coffee from El Mirador reflects this philosophy, combining decades of family heritage with a relentless pursuit of quality and a genuine passion for advancing Colombian specialty coffee.

• Region: Huila
• Country: Colombia
• Elevation: 1,550 - 1,680 masl
• Variety: Orange Bourbon
• Process: Washed