Producer: Rigoberto Herrera
Farm: Las Margaritas, Café Granja La Esperanza
Region: Caicedonia, Valle del Cauca
Altitude: 1,571-1,852 masl
Varietal: Sudan Rume
Process: Washed
Roast: Light-Medium
Notes: Oolong, Papaya, Caramel

Sudan Rume is an exceptionally rare coffee with a beautiful flavor profile. As its name suggests, the varietal was discovered in the country of Sudan near its border with Ethiopia. It's a naturally-occurring varietal from the Bourbon family, bursting with rich fruit and unique herbal flavors, but very low-yielding. Due to its low yield Sudan Rume has mainly been used for breeding, creating hybrids that produce more fruit with some of its prized flavor characteristics.

Recently, farms in the specialty coffee world have begun to allot some of their farmland to Sudan Rume trees. As the harvest is incredibly small, this coffee is a classic case of quality over quantity.

After careful picking, the cherries are left intact to ferment for 19-22 hours. They are then depulped without water to begin a second fermentation step in parchment and mucilage for 35 hours. After washing, they are mechanically dried to a moisture content of about 10.5%.

Nearly a century old, and spread across five farms in Valle del Cauca and Cundinamarca, Café Granja La Esperanza has taken great strides under the Herrera brothers’ leadership and forward-thinking vision. In the last decade, the farm has transitioned away from traditional commodity-market coffees to the delicate and exquisite varieties coveted by the specialty coffee industry.

The Herrera brothers' patience and willingness to experiment with rare varieties has won them numerous accolades from the SCAA and Roasters Guild. They are also known for their fair and innovative production and labor practices. Optimal work conditions are a priority at the estate, where workers are paid fair wages and child labor is not permitted.

In 2012, Café Granja La Esperanza achieved a “Triple Crown,” landing in 2nd, 3rd, and 7th place in the SCAA’s Coffees of the Year competition. We've been proud to partner with a producer who values experimentation with rare and difficult varieties—the results over the years have always been worth it!