Santa Mónica, Washed Espresso - Colombia

At Santa Mónica, near Armenia in Colombia’s Quindío region, Jairo Arcila cultivates Caturra on fertile volcanic soils at high altitude, where cool mountain conditions allow cherries to ripen slowly and develop exceptional sweetness and clarity. While Caturra has become less common in Colombia, at Santa Mónica it continues to shine, producing coffees that are elegant, expressive and deeply connected to their terroir.

Only perfectly ripe cherries are selected before being transported to the Arcila family’s La Pradera processing centre. There, the coffee undergoes careful sorting, flotation and a controlled 30-hour underwater fermentation designed to enhance complexity while preserving freshness and balance. After washing, the parchment is slowly dried to a precise moisture level, with water recycled and naturally treated throughout the process.

The result is a beautifully balanced cup with notes of brown sugar, apricot and mandarin. Sweet and approachable, it offers vibrant citrus brightness, gentle stone fruit character and a clean, refined finish. A coffee that demonstrates how thoughtful farming and restrained processing can produce something both elegant and effortlessly enjoyable.

• Region: Quindio 
• Country: Colombia
• Elevation: 1,400 - 1,550 masl
• Variety: Caturra
• Process: Washed