ESPRESSO | COLOMBIA LUZ HELENA SALAZAR (Sailboat Traded Coffee)

We are very excited to release this coffee as part of our collab with New Dawn Traders and Cofinet.

This sailboat traded coffee, produced by the mother of the Cofinet farms, Luz Helena Salazar, has been a long-time goal for us here at Farmhand.

Read more about the coffee’s journey via ship down below.

This Castillo lot comes from the lush hills of Armenia, Quindío, Colombia, nestled between 1,450 and 1,500 metres above sea level. With its volcanic ash and clay loam soils, combined with a steady annual rainfall and temperatures ranging from 18 to 28°C, this region provides ideal growing conditions for producing beautifully expressive coffees. Grown exclusively by Luz Helena Arcila on her family farm in Maracay, this microlot offers a complex and balanced espresso profile—bursting with caramel sweetness and appealing to both black coffee drinkers and those who enjoy milk-based brews.

The coffee is 100% Castillo, a variety developed by the Federación Nacional de Cafeteros for its resilience against leaf rust and high yield. Luz Helena’s washed process is meticulous: ripe cherries are floated and hand-sorted to remove any defects, followed by 30 hours of underwater fermentation. The beans are then pulped, gently washed, and dried under temperature-controlled conditions to reach the perfect moisture content. Her attention to detail results in a remarkably clean and structured cup, showcasing the full potential of the variety and terroir.

Our connection to this coffee began through our ongoing relationship with Cofinet, founded by brothers Carlos and Felipe Arcila. Raised on a coffee farm by their parents, Jairo and Luz Helena Arcila, the brothers have continued their family legacy, with Carlos identifying a growing demand for traceable, high-quality coffees while living in Australia. Their father, Jairo, is the producer behind the decaffeinated coffee we also offer, while Luz Helena—who learned the craft after marrying Jairo—now leads with deep expertise and care. As Carlos puts it, she likely knows more about coffee growing and agronomy than the rest of the family combined.

This project started around five years ago with the aim of sourcing coffee more sustainably while building closer connections with the people behind each lot. Coffee is a global product, and it’s easy to feel removed from the places and people who make it possible. Our collaboration with New Dawn Traders has brought us closer to that journey. Most recently, our junior roaster Grace joined the final seven-day leg of the coffee’s voyage from Falmouth in Cornwall to Dublin aboard the sailing vessel Grayhound—delivering this special lot in the most meaningful and sustainable way possible.