NETWORK: Felipe from La Palma y El Tucan

This month we have interviewed one pioneer in the specialty coffee industry. We managed to pull him aside during his trip to the World Barista Championship in Rimini, Italy to chat about his Company and his passion!

He is Felipe Sardi founder of “La Palma y el Tucan” Felipe and his team are growers and processing specialists of the finest Colombian coffees.

BMR: “Where exactly is your farm?”

Felipe: “We are growers and processing specialists of fine Colombian coffees, and we are located in a unique micro-climate on the eastern range of the Colombian Andes, at 6,000 ft (1,800 mts) above sea level. We have established our project on a beautiful region within the cundinamrca department, known for it´s long coffee-growing tradition and ideal for producing high-grown specialty coffee”.

BMR: “Why your coffee beans are different?”

Felipe: “We are challenging and rethinking the model where productivity comes before quality, by introducing new technical and commercial concepts that benefit small producers, while helping to preserve our environment.

We innovate and experiment with all types of processes at our wet-mill, and are always trying to surprise our ever-demanding industry.”

BMR: “Did you always work in the coffee industry?”

Felipe: “Not always. I’ve been in specialty coffee for over 10 years now, but I’ve also have worked on some other less attractive employments for a few years, until I had enough savings to get myself back into the coffee world”.

BMR: “What’s the key of your success?”

Felipe: “Thanks for the question, but I don’t believe we have been successful yet.

Our project is new and it’s full of challenges. All we want is to work hard and achieve our goal of producing the best Colombian specialty coffee in a sustainable and socially-responsible way”.

BMR: “What motivates you?”

Felipe: “Dreaming about rescuing our region’s disappearing coffee culture.

Contributing to our coffee-growing community by allowing the most vulnerable coffee growers in our country to succeed in producing great coffees, responsibly.”

BMR: “How did you start this business?”

Felipe: “3 years ago, we assembled a great team and started looking for a farm. 2013 was our first production year ever”.

BMR: “Do you prefer coffee or wine?”

Felipe: “Coffee! Always coffee”.

BMR: “What do you like to do outside of work?”

Felipe: “Kite surf”

BMR:  “What’s your favorite thing about your job?”

Felipe: “I get to cup awesome coffees very often”

BMR: “How do you usually drink your coffee?”

Felipe: “Filter”

Thank you Felipe for your time and thank you for bringing some amazing green coffee into this country. Check his site out at www.lapalmayeltucan.com

Black Market Roasters uses Arabica coffee beans for its coffee beans, freshly roasts them to order and delivers FREE to your door. We specialize in single origin coffee beans, coffee bean blends, best coffee beans, premium coffee beans, decaffeinated beans and filter coffee beans. Head over to our Beans Page to get started.