Luz Helena

With its distinctive rosy cherry colour and exceptional cup quality, Pink Bourbon has become one of the most sought-after varieties in Colombia. This lot comes from Luz Helena Salazar, whose dedication and care are deeply rooted in her family’s coffee legacy.

Expect a beautifully balanced cup with sweet fruit, delicate florals, vibrant acidity and a silky body.

Luz Helena is more than a dedicated coffee producer, she is the heart of the Salazar family’s coffee story. A mother, wife, and an inspiring figure in specialty coffee, she is also the mother of Carlos and Felipe Arcila. From an early age, she helped shape their love for coffee, teaching them the values of hard work, commitment, and passion.

Her journey into coffee began through her husband, Jairo Arcila, a lifelong coffee farmer. Through him, Luz Helena learned the traditions, challenges, and beauty of coffee farming, and quickly fell in love with the stories behind every cup. She saw how coffee could bring people together, how it could create community, connection, and something truly meaningful.

Today, her dedication continues to shine through in every lot she produces. Her work is a reflection of love, perseverance, and quiet strength, and this Pink Bourbon is a beautiful expression of that.

Only the ripest cherries are selectively hand-picked by Luz Helena and her team and transported to La Pradera processing centre. Upon arrival, the cherries are meticulously hand-sorted and floated to remove any low-density or defective fruit, ensuring only the highest quality cherries move forward.

The cherries then undergo a 30-hour underwater anaerobic fermentation, a carefully controlled process that allows sugars and organic acids to break down gradually. This enhances flavour complexity while preserving the coffee’s inherent character, resulting in a bright, lively cup with a harmonious balance of sweetness and acidity.

After fermentation, the cherries are pulped and thoroughly washed. The water used in the washing process is recycled for subsequent batches, and all wastewater is treated through green filtration system, filtered through specialized tanks and vetiver grass beds before being released as oxygen, ensuring an environmentally responsible process.

Once washed, the coffee is dried on raised beds or in the elbas drying station, depending on lot size.The team monitors the coffee closely to ensure even drying and optimal quality, aiming for a final moisture content of 9.5–11%.