Andres Cardona is a special coffee producer for us here at PERC. Last year, we purchased his “Luna Azul” and “Red Sunset” lots, which both blew us away for different reasons. Having both of those coffees was an enlightening tasting experience that highlighted just how impactful processing at the farm level can be. This year, we decided to buy Andres’ natural processed lot, “La Ilusion.” Needless to say, it didn’t disappoint!

For this coffee, Andres lets his cherries ferment for 96 hours. The cherries are then dried in silos and finally on drying beds for a total of 204 hours. Andres learned how to farm from his mentor, Felipe Trujillo. This coffee is undeniably outstanding. La Ilusion is the confluence of old and new knowledge of growing and processing in Colombia. It highlights the importance of mentorship and the curiosity to forge new paths. Look for notes of red wine, strawberry hard candy, and dark chocolate in the cup.