Colombia | Field Notes & Reflections
At the end of last month, our Director David (many of you will know as Sugar) embarked on his first trip to origin. Sugar's short but memorable trip to Colombia was a big milestone, for him personally and for Embassy's mission; an opportunity to visit the farms we source our coffee from is a natural progression in our journey to share fully traceable coffee that never compromises on quality. But Sugar soon came to the realisation that the most memorable part of this trip wasn't the coffee, it's the people behind it. Read on for Sugar's field notes and reflections from his experience in Colombia.
Sugar and two team members from Cofinet's HQ, La Pradera
We can only truly share what we’ve experienced for ourselves, what we’ve seen with our own eyes, touched with our own hands, and felt through real connection. It’s our turn to share these stories, and hope our community trusts in us to learn from our experiences.
For those who know me well, you probably think I’m always working, or on my way to work. And honestly, you’re not wrong. But I consider myself lucky. Coffee isn’t just what I do for work, it’s what I love. Being around coffee, working with it, and learning from it is simply part of my personal journey.
This time, work has taken me on a journey far from home. I’m writing this while sitting on a plane, heading home from visiting our friends at Cofinet in Colombia. Some might say this was an exciting opportunity, and I do feel grateful. But I’m also a homebody. I love spending evenings on the couch with the cats and my partner. So while this trip has been special, it’s still work to me, and a step out of my comfort zone.
Many hours and several flights later, including one that had to turn back due to weather, my travel companion Nico and I finally arrived in Armenia, where Cofinet is based. We stayed at their processing centre, La Pradera, which became our home for the next five days. Each morning we cupped different coffees, and in the afternoons we visited various farms, either owned by Cofinet or run by producers they collaborate with.
Mornings spent cupping coffee with the Cofinet team
From the very beginning, we were struck by the hospitality and openness of everyone we met. The Cofinet team, farm owners, caretakers, growers, and pickers welcomed us with warmth and generosity. Of course, we learned about different coffee varieties and processing methods, and how these differences taste in the cup in their own unique way. But more importantly, we learned about the people. We heard about their lives, their challenges, and their hopes; things you can’t really understand from a polished Instagram reel or read about in an article written halfway across the globe.
Somewhere within these five packed days, between the long travel days and too many mosquito bites, I started to reflect. We often form opinions based on what we’ve heard from others or experienced in the past. It’s easy to base what we know about coffee farmers on what we’ve learned from afar. But just like us, each person we met had their own story, and their own challenges.
Diofanor Ruiz, a passionate farmer we had the opportunity to speak with
Not every farmer faces the same issues, and those issues aren’t necessarily what’s reported on in the news or online. Some are affected by climate change, others by labour shortages or unstable pricing. In some cases, it’s a generational shift, where there’s no one to take over when the older generation of farmers step back. Their challenges are real, but they vary. There’s one constant thing that does not change; every human on the planet has their own challenges to face, and there is no one-size-fits-all situation.
What this trip gave me was perspective; a reminder that farms are not just names or locations printed on a bag. They are individuals, families, and communities. This experience is the beginning of building more direct, meaningful relationships. It’s about understanding the needs at origin, and asking what we can do to support these farmers from our side of the world.
Unloading picked coffee from local farms to be processed at La Pradera
Our role in the supply chain, and our mission, is to be ambassadors for the coffee we share with you. We aim to be storytellers, bringing you what we’ve seen and felt through real experiences on the ground, alongside the humans who grow the coffee we’re all lucky enough to enjoy. These stories come to life through handshakes, conversations, tears, and shared laughter. We hope to keep sharing these stories with you for many years to come. Thanks for being part of this journey; here’s to better coffee, together.
