About Emmanuel Enciso of Colombia

The coffee project in the village of Gaitania, led by coffee grower Emmanuel Enciso, is a remarkable story of passion and community development. Emmanuel's upbringing in a coffee-growing family provided the foundation for his dedication to coffee. In 2006, he expanded his knowledge about coffee processes and quality, focusing on producing specialty coffees within his micro-region. However, like many other coffee growers, he faced challenges due to the lack of a central processing center for quality control. In response, in 2016, Emmanuel and his family embarked on creating a coffee processing center that now serves as a vital link between more than 15 villages in Gaitania, processing coffee from various local growers. This particular coffee is a blend of Caturra and Colombia cultivars, sourced from a community of 80 coffee farms around Gaitania. Forest Coffee, who initiated the project with just one farm, now collaborates with over 80 farmers in the region, teaching them the art of growing and processing specialty coffee and ensuring they receive fair compensation, paying 30% above the rates offered by the Colombia federation for top-rated coffees. The meticulous process involves a 24-hour washed fermentation in mucilage, followed by thorough washing, sun drying on a patio, and a stabilization period before dry milling, resulting in exceptional coffee quality.