Taking too long? Close loading screen.

A Pilgrimage to the Future*

 

In July, I had the chance to travel around Huila, Colombia, for a few days, a trip that’s always close to my heart. Coffees from Huila are my ideal cups: sweet, juicy and acidic, but balanced and approachable. This trip, however, had a different type of energy.

 

*This article was written for the September/October edition of Roast Magazine

   4 Minutes Read

By Anthony Auger
North America Sales Representative
  • I was crammed in a tiny 4x4 with two longtime friends, a hired driver, an agronomist, and a relationship manager from Caravela Coffee, all venturing to see a producer whose coffee has inspired us. That producer is Carlos Imbachi of Finca Buenavista.

    I was joined on this trip by roasters Andrew McCaslin from Kaldi’s Coffee Roasting Company in St. Louis and Jonathan Aldrich from Tweed Coffee in Dallas. Oddly enough, I met both at a regional Brewers Cup competition in 2013, where we all competed against each other. Back then, our knowledge of the green side of the industry was nonexistent, but we were passionate about specialty coffee and eager to learn more.

    For me, those competitions and Specialty Coffee Association events provided the perfect catalyst to explore the more progressive thoughts and theories that were developing, in my own mind and throughout the specialty side of the industry at the time. Brewers Cup specifically granted me the platform I needed to speak my mind on issues facing our industry. I was able to meet people who were just as passionate—if not more so—than I was, and I grew professionally from these interactions.

    Yolanda Samboní with her sons Ever, Diego and Yancarlos Imbachi


    I asked Andrew and Jonathan how spending time as competitors and roasters has been beneficial to their coffee careers. We all agreed that the access to a greater network was crucial to our personal development, but they also had some intriguing opinions about how they got where they are today. In unison, they said there had been a void that needed to be filled.

    That idea really struck home with me. When I dove head first into specialty coffee, I found not only that this was a job that required a passionate individual, but that I personally needed something to be passionate about. It was during this time in my life that a sample of Carlos Imbachi’s coffee came across the cupping table, through the import company Caravela Coffee, and it knocked my socks off. I was utterly confused because, though it tasted like a Kenyan, I knew the importer worked only in Latin America. The quality of that coffee made such an impression on me, I knew one day I would need to work more closely with Carlos Imbachi. A few years later, I had accomplished my goal and was working at Caravela.

    Fast-forward to our current trip in Huila: When we got to the top of the mountain, we were greeted by Diego Imbachi, age 20, who told us his father, Carlos, would not be able to meet with us today. Honestly, I was pretty disappointed, although I tried my hardest not to show it. This trip was like a pilgrimage for all three of us to meet the man who produced the coffee that changed our perspectives on quality and attention to detail.

    Diego Imbachi


    Diego introduced us to his sister, Sonia, and his brother Ever, both of whom recently purchased 1-hectare plots of Carlos’ farm Buenavista for their own. (A fourth sibling, Didier, is quality assurance coordinator at Caravela’s dry mill in Armenia, Colombia.) Diego then asked if we would like to see part of the farm where they had planted some gesha plants a couple years back, and we started walking through the towering caturra plants to this new plot.

    As we stepped through the mud and pushed back branches, Diego timidly told us about his role at the farm, where he has begun taking on more responsibility. He described the dilemma he found himself in a few years back: Should he stay in the family business or go to school to become a computer programmer? Just as he was about to decide to go to university, he attended a cupping and workshop for children of coffee producers, and his life changed forever. Like the competitions and events Andrew, Jonathan and I had attended, this community coffee workshop had been the catalyst for Diego to pursue coffee as a career. He also told us there was a void in the family business. Someone needed to become the forward thinker and experimenter in the family, so they could remain competitive in the Colombian market. He was afraid if he didn’t do it, no one would, and the legacy of his family’s farm would be lost.

    As we arrived at the new plot of Gesha plants, it all clicked for me. Here we were, coffee professionals from different corners of the globe, standing on top of a mountain in Colombia witnessing a new crop of plants attempting to grow in their environment. It was the perfect illustration of the continuous change that needs to happen for our industry to remain relevant. The four of us were all children from an alternative school of thought, brought together by community efforts, global coffee organizations, and our desire and passion to step into the coffee chain to deliver the best cup of coffee possible.

    Didier Imbachi, Quality Assurance Coordinator at Caravela


    I felt silly. This story wasn’t about some romanticized pilgrimage to a famous coffee producer who had motivated us to progress in the industry. This story was about the torchbearers, the flame keepers and the unsung heroes of the specialty coffee industry who are driven by passion, obsession and moments of madness to create something bigger than ourselves.

    Hours later, as we started our journey back down the mountain, I was no longer disappointed. Instead, I was delighted that I had been able to meet Diego, because he is the future of coffee. It’s rare for a coffee producer’s offspring to stay on the farm, but the Imbachi family has passed on the tradition to all four children, each of whom found his or her own reasons to stay. With the average age of a coffee producer now over 50 in Colombia, it’s refreshing to see three young producers with the last name Imbachi paving their own path.

    Carlos Imbachi with his sons Ever and Diego on the family farm

0 Comments

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Was this interesting? Grab a coffee and pick another from the articles below
Agroforestry For the Planet: The Impact of Shade-Grown Coffee

Agroforestry For the Planet: The Impact of Shade-Grown Coffee

What Makes a B Corp a Different Kind of Business?

What Makes a B Corp a Different Kind of Business?

Sustainability: The Sextant of Our Navigation

Sustainability: The Sextant of Our Navigation

Taking Coffee Education Program to the Next Level

Taking Coffee Education Program to the Next Level

Learning from 2021 and Reflecting on the Future of Coffee

Learning from 2021 and Reflecting on the Future of Coffee

Cost Of Production Spotlight: Price Spikes ≠ Higher Incomes

Cost Of Production Spotlight: Price Spikes ≠ Higher Incomes

Receiving Coffee, Delivering Resilience

Receiving Coffee, Delivering Resilience

Recognizing Producers’ Commitment to Excellence in El Salvador

Recognizing Producers’ Commitment to Excellence in El Salvador

The Sum of Small Actions: PECA contributes to the reduction of GHG’s

The Sum of Small Actions: PECA contributes to the reduction of GHG’s

A Pivotal Moment for Specialty Coffee

A Pivotal Moment for Specialty Coffee

Long Distances, Long Histories: Getting Close to Coffee in Oaxaca

Long Distances, Long Histories: Getting Close to Coffee in Oaxaca

We are Best for the World 2021!

We are Best for the World 2021!

Transparent Teamwork with Local Cooperatives

Transparent Teamwork with Local Cooperatives

Planning Ahead: As bad as it sounds?

Planning Ahead: As bad as it sounds?

Growing and Thriving with Guatemalan Farmers

Growing and Thriving with Guatemalan Farmers

An Update on Colombia’s Ongoing Crisis

An Update on Colombia’s Ongoing Crisis

Mastering the Learning Loop in Peru

Mastering the Learning Loop in Peru

Supply Chain Hurricane: Weathering a perfect logistical storm in 2021

Supply Chain Hurricane: Weathering a perfect logistical storm in 2021

Making the Coffee World More Sustainable

Making the Coffee World More Sustainable

A Familiar Face Returns: William Ortiz at the helm of Colombia/Ecuador

A Familiar Face Returns: William Ortiz at the helm of Colombia/Ecuador

Cause and Effectiveness: Increasing Impact with the Sustainable Development Initiative

Cause and Effectiveness: Increasing Impact with the Sustainable Development Initiative

Shifting Calendars, Shifting Harvests

Shifting Calendars, Shifting Harvests

Third-Party Verification that Leads to Action

Third-Party Verification that Leads to Action

‘Milds’ Intrigue: The Price Quandry Facing Farmers

‘Milds’ Intrigue: The Price Quandry Facing Farmers

Guiding Farms in the Right Direction

Guiding Farms in the Right Direction

Our Best Coffee is Our People

Our Best Coffee is Our People

Inclusion and Diversity Report

Inclusion and Diversity Report

What’s Brewing in the Coffee Industry: Lessons Learned and What to Look Forward in 2021

What’s Brewing in the Coffee Industry: Lessons Learned and What to Look Forward in 2021

Why Add Yeast ?

Why Add Yeast ?

Polar Promise in Las Palmas: A Case Study of North Star’s El Salvador Origin Project

Polar Promise in Las Palmas: A Case Study of North Star’s El Salvador Origin Project

Peru 2020: Rising Up From Lockdown

Peru 2020: Rising Up From Lockdown

Ecuador 2020: Making Our Way in the Middle

Ecuador 2020: Making Our Way in the Middle

Climate Neutral Caravela 2025: Steady Steps Towards a More Sustainable Future

Climate Neutral Caravela 2025: Steady Steps Towards a More Sustainable Future

Impact of COVID-19 on Specialty Coffee Roasters: Adapting to New Realities

Impact of COVID-19 on Specialty Coffee Roasters: Adapting to New Realities

A Primer on Transparency + Traceability Part II

A Primer on Transparency + Traceability Part II

A Primer on Transparency + Traceability Part I

A Primer on Transparency + Traceability Part I

How to Create a Specialty Coffee Line to Attract Commercial Coffee Drinkers Into The Specialty Coffee World? Part II

How to Create a Specialty Coffee Line to Attract Commercial Coffee Drinkers Into The Specialty Coffee World? Part II

A Take on Long-standing Relationships: Hasbean and Pedro Claros

A Take on Long-standing Relationships: Hasbean and Pedro Claros

Futures Contracts: What, Why, How  Part Three: Futures 103 How Hedging Works

Futures Contracts: What, Why, How Part Three: Futures 103 How Hedging Works

Futures Contracts: What, Why, How Part Two: Futures 102

Futures Contracts: What, Why, How Part Two: Futures 102

Futures Contracts: What, Why, How Part One: Futures 101

Futures Contracts: What, Why, How Part One: Futures 101

Grade Expectations: Finding Versatility and Value in A and AA Coffees

Grade Expectations: Finding Versatility and Value in A and AA Coffees

A Presentation on Cost of Production In Latin America

A Presentation on Cost of Production In Latin America

Meso-American Producer Survey: The Pandemic Will Leave Long-Lasting Scars

Meso-American Producer Survey: The Pandemic Will Leave Long-Lasting Scars

Invisible Barriers for Moving Coffee

Invisible Barriers for Moving Coffee

Caravela at 20: The Journey is Only Getting Started

Caravela at 20: The Journey is Only Getting Started

Certifiably Awesome: Passion and Persistence Turn Promise into Parchment in Mexico

Certifiably Awesome: Passion and Persistence Turn Promise into Parchment in Mexico

Harvest Arrives, Along with a Pandemic

Harvest Arrives, Along with a Pandemic

Minga From Field To Filter: Coffee Reacts and Adapts to the Covid Era

Minga From Field To Filter: Coffee Reacts and Adapts to the Covid Era

Mother Nature Turns The Volume Down in Nicaragua

Mother Nature Turns The Volume Down in Nicaragua

LOTSA Potential: The Long-Term Supply Agreement as a Tool for Financial Stability and Building Relationships

LOTSA Potential: The Long-Term Supply Agreement as a Tool for Financial Stability and Building Relationships

Progress in a Picture-Perfect Coffee Setting

Progress in a Picture-Perfect Coffee Setting

The Price and Value of Consistency

The Price and Value of Consistency

Looking Back and Leaping Forward

Looking Back and Leaping Forward

Womxn-Powered Coffee: Why It Matters

Womxn-Powered Coffee: Why It Matters

Unpoppable Opportunities for the Future

Unpoppable Opportunities for the Future

Equipping the Equipo: Playing to win in Guatemala and El Salvador

Equipping the Equipo: Playing to win in Guatemala and El Salvador

Agronomy to Keep the Microlots Coming

Agronomy to Keep the Microlots Coming

Evolution in a Land of Revolution

Evolution in a Land of Revolution

Cupping as Meditation

Cupping as Meditation

Origin Revelations

Origin Revelations

Avoiding the Poverty Trap: Choosing Stories Instead of Emotional Marketing

Avoiding the Poverty Trap: Choosing Stories Instead of Emotional Marketing

I’ve Bean Everywhere, Man

I’ve Bean Everywhere, Man

Have Yourself a Mara Little Christmas

Have Yourself a Mara Little Christmas

All Roads Lead to Coffee

All Roads Lead to Coffee

How Coffee can Complement Food

How Coffee can Complement Food

Building Projects at Origin

Building Projects at Origin

Coffee: Culture or Business?

Coffee: Culture or Business?

Café: ¿Cultura o Negocio?

Café: ¿Cultura o Negocio?

A Study on Costs of Production in Latin America

A Study on Costs of Production in Latin America

Fermentation Experiments in Nicaragua – How We Managed to Go from RTB to AAA

Fermentation Experiments in Nicaragua – How We Managed to Go from RTB to AAA

Constantly Adapting to Change

Constantly Adapting to Change

Mind the Gap: A Growing Gray Area Between Market and Production

Mind the Gap: A Growing Gray Area Between Market and Production

Embracing Technology to Create New Pathways in Coffee

Embracing Technology to Create New Pathways in Coffee

Forward Contracting to Secure Quality, Quantity and Relationships

Forward Contracting to Secure Quality, Quantity and Relationships

Caravela Sponsors Seven Small-holder Coffee Producers to attend the Producer and Roaster Forum in Guatemala

Caravela Sponsors Seven Small-holder Coffee Producers to attend the Producer and Roaster Forum in Guatemala

Colombian Specialty Coffee Scene. A Perspective from Café Quindío

Colombian Specialty Coffee Scene. A Perspective from Café Quindío

Introducing Collectivos in El Salvador, Guatemala and Mexico

Introducing Collectivos in El Salvador, Guatemala and Mexico

Coffee Sampling  Increases Farmers Profitability Opportunities

Coffee Sampling Increases Farmers Profitability Opportunities

Caravela From a Newcomer’s View

Caravela From a Newcomer’s View

Impact Report 2018

Impact Report 2018

Water Activity: Predictive insights Changing Processes and Profits

Water Activity: Predictive insights Changing Processes and Profits

Blending Experience with Passion in Mesoamerica

Blending Experience with Passion in Mesoamerica

Coffee in Galapagos: Evolving To Thrive

Coffee in Galapagos: Evolving To Thrive

The Specialty Coffee Transaction Guide – Setting the Bar on Prices

The Specialty Coffee Transaction Guide – Setting the Bar on Prices

Arriving at a price

Arriving at a price

Rich Farmer, Poor Farmer

Rich Farmer, Poor Farmer

Low Prices, Risky Times

Low Prices, Risky Times

Making it Work as Well as it Can

Making it Work as Well as it Can

Discovering the Source

Discovering the Source

A Mutual Evolution: Caravela Nicaragua’s William Ortiz, on helping people grow coffee, and how coffee helps people grow

A Mutual Evolution: Caravela Nicaragua’s William Ortiz, on helping people grow coffee, and how coffee helps people grow

The High Price of Getting the Best from Ecuador

The High Price of Getting the Best from Ecuador

Victims of Exchanging Currencies – Who Should Take on this Risk?

Victims of Exchanging Currencies – Who Should Take on this Risk?

A Pilgrimage to the Future

A Pilgrimage to the Future

Why We’re Investing in World Coffee Research?

Why We’re Investing in World Coffee Research?

The Making of a Champion

The Making of a Champion

Peru, an Unpolished Diamond in Coffee Production

Peru, an Unpolished Diamond in Coffee Production

Investing in Education: Investing in People

Investing in Education: Investing in People

How Roasters Can Influence the Supply Chain

How Roasters Can Influence the Supply Chain

Aromas: More than Just a Coffee Competition

Aromas: More than Just a Coffee Competition

FOB vs. EXW – Two Buying/Shipping Methods for Your Green Coffee

FOB vs. EXW – Two Buying/Shipping Methods for Your Green Coffee

Checking Your Cultural Bias at the Door

Checking Your Cultural Bias at the Door

Sample Roasting vs. Profile Roasting

Sample Roasting vs. Profile Roasting

How to Keep Records of your Costs of Production?

How to Keep Records of your Costs of Production?

Why and How to Estimate Costs of Production in a Coffee Farm?

Why and How to Estimate Costs of Production in a Coffee Farm?

Supply Chain Logistics – The Clockwork of Coffee

Supply Chain Logistics – The Clockwork of Coffee

1st SEMESTER HARVEST 2018 SURVEY

1st SEMESTER HARVEST 2018 SURVEY

Forecasting Green Coffee Purchasing

Forecasting Green Coffee Purchasing

From Origin, With Love

From Origin, With Love

How Joe Coffee and the Guarnizo family work together to ensure everyone wins

How Joe Coffee and the Guarnizo family work together to ensure everyone wins

What is specialty Coffee

What is specialty Coffee

Impact Report 2017

Impact Report 2017

Impact Report 2016

Impact Report 2016

Drying in Peru: the Final Step in Quality Improvement

Drying in Peru: the Final Step in Quality Improvement

Passion for Coffee: Nicaragua

Passion for Coffee: Nicaragua

Passion for Coffee: Guatemala and Salvador

Passion for Coffee: Guatemala and Salvador

“Despacito”: How Coffee Should Be Dried

“Despacito”: How Coffee Should Be Dried

Why we are a B-Corp

Why we are a B-Corp

How One Roaster Can Impact a Whole Community

How One Roaster Can Impact a Whole Community

FOB vs: EXW – Two Buying/Shipping Methods for Your Green Coffee

FOB vs: EXW – Two Buying/Shipping Methods for Your Green Coffee

When is it time to harvest?

When is it time to harvest?

Just In Time Inventory

Just In Time Inventory

Spectrum Purchasing and How it Impacts Sustainability

Spectrum Purchasing and How it Impacts Sustainability

CONNECT WITH US

© Caravela Limited, 2020
SUBSCRIBE TO RECEIVE OUR LATEST NEWS

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Translate »

Pin It on Pinterest

Share

Share this content with your coffee community!