Colombia
Tolima
Jorge Elías Rojas Vásquez
La Roca
Yellow Caturra
Honey
2024/2025
Honey juicy, Mandarine, Pineapple, Plum
1857 meters
N/A
70kg W/GrainPro
EU - Hamburg, Germany - Schwarze
Jorge Elías Rojas Vásquez was born into a coffee-growing family in La Armenia, Planadas, Tolima. Losing his father at the age of five, he grew up surrounded by coffee trees and hard work. By the time he was 12, he had taken responsibility for the family farm. In 2010, he acquired La Roca Estate, a 4.5-hectare farm 1,857 meters above sea level, where he dedicated himself to producing high-quality specialty coffee.
Nestled among natural reserves and waterfalls, La Roca State is home to exceptional coffee varieties such as Caturro, Geisha, Colombia, Pink Bourbon, Pacamara, Moka, and Wush-Wush. Jorge’s meticulous approach to coffee cultivation has earned him numerous awards, including the 2020 Planadas Coffee Auction, the 2022 Top Roast competition, and the prestigious third place in Colombia’s Cup of Excellence for a honey-processed coffee. His expertise in fermentation and processing has helped shape award-winning coffees for fellow farmers and solidify his reputation in the industry.
Jorge continuously refines his craft, earning certifications like Q Processing Level 1 from the Coffee Quality Institute. He has trained with renowned coffee experts and participated in global competitions, including the 2023 World Coffee Challenge in Madrid, where he won Best Honey-Processed Arabica. His passion has also taken him to China, where he established connections to expand the reach of Colombian specialty coffee.
Beyond farming, Jorge is a community leader, sharing his knowledge with fellow producers through ASOPEP. Its central processing facility, equipped with cutting-edge technology, ensures precision in every batch. By roasting and marketing his coffee under the La Roca State brand, he captures the full value of his labor, transforming his farm into a model of sustainability and excellence. Jorge’s journey—from a young boy working the land to a world-renowned coffee producer—is a testament to passion, perseverance, and the pursuit of perfection in every cup.
This lot of Yellow Caturra underwent honey processing. The cherries are harvested at peak ripeness and first undergo a 36-hour fermentation in cherry. After being depulped, fermentation continues for another 36 hours, allowing the flavors to develop further. The coffee then moves to the drying stage, where it is closely monitored. Once it reaches 15% moisture, it is given a 48-hour resting period before completing the drying process. Finally, it is stored in GrainPro bags to preserve its quality.
The Colombian Department of Tolima is nested in the heart of Andean region in the center-west of the country. The department ranks first in Colombia in the production of rice and sesame. Farmers here also grow coffee, corn, bananas, sugarcane, and beans. Livestock, particularly cattle and pigs, are quite common in the northwest and center-east valleys along the Magdalena River and its basins. 32 of Tolima’s 47 municipalities are dedicated to coffee production.
Tolima’s capital city of Ibagué, also known as “Musical capital of Colombia and America” is surrounded by the mountains and enriched with water resources stretching along the Magdalena River Valley to the east of the Department. Tolima is traversed by highways and railroads, linking Ibagué with Bogotá, Armenia (Quindio), and Neiva (Huila).
The geographical location, topographic diversity, and range of altitudes make Tolima one of the most favorable and unique departments for coffee production, allowing for harvesting throughout the year. Coffee farms are scattered on the mountain ranges of Santa Marta, La Macarena, and the western slopes of the eastern Cordilleras. Farms here are predominantly smallholder owned, and the farmers have made concerted efforts in the last ten years to produce specialty coffee that reveals the full character of the region’s terroir. The organic approach to coffee cultivation in Tolima is well-known and highly demanded around the world. Certifications like Fairtrade, Organic, Rainforest Alliance, UTZ, and Bird Friendly can be found throughout the region. Selective manual harvesting, attentive processing, and careful post-harvest sorting all contribute to the growing recognition of Tolima as a coffee producing region.
Tolima’s coffee sector has attracted numerous financial and educational resources over the past several years. State and private owned organizations have invested with social and economic programs throughout the region, strengthening the potential for sustainable coffee production and improving the livelihoods of thousands of families.
