Jairo Arcila Finca Villarazo

Jairo Arcila, Finca Villarazo; Armenia, Quindio, Colombia; Yellow Sudan Rume; Natural Extended Fermentation; 2024

Grapes | Cherry | Raisins | Lavender | Sugar Cane

Finca Villarazo is seated on fertile volcanic land along the scenic and winding Buenvista road in Armenia, Quindio. We visited the beautiful farm in 2019 during our visit to Cofinet farms including Santa Monica. Coffee harvesting is done by hand, afterwhich they are transported to La Pradera wet mill for processing. This station is also the HQ of Cofinet, established by Jairo Arcila's two sons - Carlos and Felipe Arcila. They produce coffee from their own farms, e.g. Santa Monica, Finca Villarazo, Jardines del Eden, etc. In addition, they collect coffee cherries or bean from selected farms not owed by them for processing or marketing under the Cofinet brand.

We are very familiar with Santa Monica and Finca Villarazo of Jairo Arcila. Known for their experimental products, they have continually produced a series of co-fermented coffees using fruits like strawberry, lychee, peach, cinnamon, etc. While such coffees involve common varieties like Castillo, Finca Villarazo also grows rare varieties like Sudan Rume. Such varieties processed in traditional methods highlight the contribution of terroir and processing to the final coffee profile. Under a field mutation, the Sudan Rume is yellow when ripe.

While scientists are unsure whether coffee did originate in Ethiopia or South Sudan, coffee lovers are romantically attached to Ethiopia. We now have a coffee that is across the border into South Sudan, originating inside the small forest of Boma National Park where Arabica coffee still grows completely wild. Known as RS-510 in botany, it has not undergone any selective breeding program and thus remains genetically close to its wild ancestors of East Africa. A true representation of Coffea arabica, its genetic purity makes it a good candidate in breeding programs to introduce desirable flavor characteristics into new hybrid varieties. Surely a true cup of arabica, Sudan Rume is small, compact and low yielding, and susceptible to leaf rust and other diseases. Its seeds are elongated, like the Geisha, another highly prized variety. Both varieties share the characteristics of being outstanding in profile, high in maintenance and low productivity, thus explaining their higher prices. We have managed to source through Cofinet a remarkable Geisha which is relatively affordable - Sebastian Gomez's La Divisa. Now, we have a similarly affordable Sudan Rume.

This coffee turns yellow when fully ripe. It has undergone Extended Fermentation, done in the following manner: dry aerobic fermentation of 24 hours, then placed inside Grainpro bags for 50 hours at a temperature below 22 ºC. The whole cherries were placed on raised beds until 11% moisture content was achieved. Sudan Rume is known for its complex flavors, often showcasing floral aromatics, bright citrus acidity, and deep tropical fruit notes, accompanied by interesting acidity and intense sweetness. Processed as a long natural process, our Sudan Rume displays a spectrum of colours, with notes of red, blue and purple.