Colombia | Las Margaritas | Gesha Natural

Blanca Ligia Correa and Juan Antonio Herrera, parents of fourteen children, established Café Granja La Esperanza in 1945 on the Potosí farm in Valle de Cauca, Colombia. Juan Antonio introduced Yellow Bourbon, Red Bourbon, and Caturra varieties to the existing Typica, laying the foundation for their specialty coffee production.

Despite the traditional Colombian family lifestyle and the need for labor, the family's dedication led to a highly productive farm. Two sons, Rigoberto and Luis, developed a keen interest in coffee production. The expansion continued with the acquisition of La Esperanza farm and, later, a Panama farm, La Carleida, where Rigoberto won the Best of Panama award in 2008 with the Gesha variety.

Café Granja La Esperanza faced challenges in adapting specialty coffee varieties to Colombian conditions and competing globally. The farm's early adoption of the Gesha variety, particularly on Cerro Azul, marked a pioneering move in Colombian coffee. Today, with five farms, including Cerro Azul, Las Margaritas, La Esperanza, Potosí, and Hawaii, Café Granja remains a prominent player in the international specialty coffee market. Rigoberto's coffees have even gained recognition in competitions, such as the World Barista Championship in 2021, where they secured 2nd place with their Gesha variety.