Alexander
Alexander comes from a coffee-farming family who was introduced to the crop by his grandfather. Both his parents were teachers and instilled in him from an early age that the only way to find progress in life is to leave the countryside. When the time came Alexander attended university and completed his studies as an industrial engineer. Later, he would find out that he preferred life in the countryside.
Tired of the city, and working odd jobs, he returned to the countryside with the certainty that there he would find a good life. Little by little, he realized that he was not going to do it alone, and he began to work with a group of farmers to form a producer’s association where he learned about the market and the world of specialty coffee. As a farmer, Alex quickly found that local buyers paid little for his coffee, but he continued on nonetheless. He sought training and innovated in his processes, improving his coffee and adding value thus increasing his profit.
Today, his coffee has been at fairs, contests, and auctions. For him, the coffee growing process means much more than a new beginning, as his family has grown closer. His dream is to become a great reference in his community despite the political instability and illicit crop production in Cauca. As a smallholder farmer, he wants to demonstrate that you can make a living with dignity from coffee growing in hopes of other farmers to follow in his footsteps.
Department: Cauca
Varietals: Castillo
Altitude: 1750 MASL
Process: Natural
Shade Trees: Carbonero, guamo, nísperos, nacederos, plantain, and guava
