Farmer: Shady & Elias Bayter
Origin: Colombia
Region: Tolima
Farm: El Vergel Estate
Altitude: 1350m
Processing: Anaerobic Natural
Varietal: Red & Yellow Caturra
This coffee comes from: El Vergel Estate’s Red & Yellow Caturra are standout coffees, grown in a microlot adjacent to the washing station and surrounded by guava trees. Known for its bold, fruity character, it’s one of the most vibrant flavor profiles ever developed by the estate. Planted in 2016 and 2018 with over 40,000 trees, this particular lot has become a key site for experimenting with large-scale processing.
El Vergel’s journey began in 1995, when the Bayter family entered the agricultural world, initially focusing on avocados. But after avocado prices crashed in 2006, they pivoted to coffee, introducing varieties like Catimore and Red and Yellow Caturra. This shift laid the foundation for their future success in specialty coffee. By 2016, with guidance from coffee expert Miguel Jimenez, they began planting high-quality varieties. In 2018, they took things further by embracing natural processing and exploring advanced fermentation techniques—most notably the Koji fermentation process, which set a new standard in green coffee innovation.
Leading the charge at El Vergel are Martha Montenegro and her partners, Elias and Shady Bayter. Together, they’re not only producing exceptional coffee but also driving a tech-forward, community-centered approach that blends innovation with passion.
One of their most celebrated creations is Guava Banana coffee, crafted from meticulously selected Red and Yellow Caturra cherries grown at the estate in Fresno, Tolima. The beans undergo a 48–60-hour anaerobic fermentation to deepen and define their flavor. After this, they are sun-dried on raised beds in a marquesina until moisture content drops to 30%. The beans are then transferred to circular mechanical dryers, kept under 45°C, to reduce moisture to 16–18%. A pre-stabilization phase enhances the flavor, followed by a final round of mechanical drying to reach the ideal moisture level. Finally, the coffee is stabilized for 45 days in GrainPro bags, preserving quality and consistency.
The result is a coffee with a rich and complex flavor profile, showcasing notes of plum, gummy candies, red wine, and chocolates. Guava Banana is a testament to El Vergel Estate’s craftsmanship and innovation—delivering a truly unique and memorable coffee experience.
