Los Patios is a dedicated coffee processing and research facility operated by The Coffee Quest, located in La Plata, Huila, Colombia. Established in June 2022, it was created to support smallholder producers in the region by addressing processing challenges, market volatility, and infrastructure gaps. The facility works with local farms averaging around 3 hectares, sourcing cherry-stage coffee and elevating it through controlled, research-driven processes. Under the guidance of an in-house R&D team, Los Patios has developed a series of proprietary co-fermentation methods designed to complement and enhance the inherent character of Colombian coffee varieties.
Castillo is Colombia's most widely grown coffee variety, developed by Cenicafé and released in 2005. It is a cross between Caturra and the Timor Hybrid, bred primarily for its strong resistance to coffee leaf rust — a disease that devastated Colombian production in the late 20th century. The variety is compact and high-yielding, making it practical for small-scale farmers across diverse altitudes and climates. In the cup, Castillo is more versatile than its utilitarian reputation suggests. When carefully grown and processed, it can deliver a smooth body, clean sweetness, and a flavor range spanning citrus brightness to rich red fruit depth.
Co-fermentation at Los Patios begins at farm level, where local producers carry out a 12-hour aerobic fermentation in cherry before depulping and delivering the wet parchment to the facility. Once at Los Patios, the R&D team introduces a commercial cherry concentrate alongside a proprietary solution. The coffee then undergoes a two-day fermentation and absorption phase, during which the fruit precursors integrate into the beans. After draining, the coffee is dried on patios for 12 to 16 days, monitored and rotated continuously for even moisture removal.
- Origin: Colombia
- Process: Co-Ferment
- Variety: Castillo
- Tasting Notes: Cherry, Candy, Vanilla
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