ONYX - Colombia Carlos Velez

Carlos Emilio Vélez, initially a cattle rancher with his father in Cauca, experienced a significant life change in 1985 when they exchanged their farm for Los Alpes in Santa Bárbara. This had led to decades of passion-driven work culminating in this micro-lot. This washed expression of his coffee exudes notes of tart grapefruit and honey.

The name Pergamino coffee has been synonymous with high-quality Colombian coffee for years. We’ve long partnered with Pedro Echavarría to purchase coffees from their family estates, and over the last four years we’ve partnered with Pergamino on the Allied Producer Program, which we’ve utilized to source coffees for not only single-origin usage but also for our staple blends when washed coffees are needed. Through the network of the Allied Producer Program, we’ve sourced excellent full container lots for our blends, and while cupping through these coffees we find micro-lots that are higher quality: with marked delicate florals and higher acidity, which we separate out to feature as a single origin offering. We pay 10-20% more for these lots as they're separated out from the larger regional blends, yielding the producer anywhere from two to three times the C-Market price. This lot is one of many lots we separated during our last visit to Pergamino.

Carlos Velez, by Pergamino Coffee
Carlos Emilio Vélez, a 68-year-old coffee producer, never imagined his life would take such a drastic turn. Initially, Carlos Emilio worked as a cattle rancher alongside his father. His family owned a farm in Bajo Cauca, where livestock was the main source of livelihood. However, in 1985, a negotiation transformed his destiny. They exchanged their farm in Bajo Cauca for a new property called Los Alpes, located in the mountainous region of Santa Bárbara.
Upon arriving at Los Alpes, Carlos Emilio and his father found 800 coffee trees scattered around the farm. While his father continued to focus on cattle, Carlos Emilio began to take an interest in coffee cultivation. Initially, it was a slow process of learning, but he soon discovered that coffee would become a passion.
For the past 39 years, Carlos Emilio has cultivated coffee at Los Alpes. Although he experimented with various crops and raised some animals, none provided the stability and satisfaction that coffee did. Over time, Carlos Emilio perfected his techniques and became an expert in the field.
A chance encounter with Leonardo Henao once again changed the course of his production. Leonardo told him about Chiroso Porte Alto, a new coffee variety with exceptional cup attributes and a growing market. Intrigued, Carlos Emilio decided to plant a few trees of this variety and was fascinated by the results.
In addition to cultivating Chiroso Porte Alto, Carlos Emilio has always sought more sustainable and environmentally friendly practices. He improved his fermentation processes daily and explored new coffee varieties. The most recent innovation on his farm is a biofactory, where, with knowledge and technical support, he is achieving promising results.
The Los Alpes farm, under Carlos Emilio's direction, has become an example of sustainable production and coffee quality. His dedication and love for cultivation have led the farm to thrive and be recognized in the market for its excellence. Carlos Emilio Vélez, who started as a cattle rancher, has transformed into a passionate and successful coffee producer, demonstrating that life in the countryside can be as rich and varied as the flavors of a good cup of coffee.