Exploring Colombia’s Coffee Heartland: Our Sourcing Journey

Every cup of coffee tells a story, and for us at Lost Coffee, the story begins at its source. This year, Kevin, Greg, and I embarked on a trip to Colombia's coffee heartland, a trip that blended adventure, cultural immersion, and the pursuit of exceptional coffee.

A Journey into Coffee Country

Our travels took us to Pereira, Colombia, where we touched down and headed to the town of Chinchiná. Nestled in the heart of Colombia’s Coffee Triangle, Chinchiná served as our base for the trip. We stayed at Hosteleria del Cafe, a tranquil retreat close to Finca La Suiza, the home of Mauricio and Adriana—the owners of Samaria Coffee.

Samaria Coffee has been a cornerstone of our sourcing, as their beans have been prominently featured in our offerings. Their decaf Colombia coffee has been a favorite for years, and one of their blends forms half of our Flat Black espresso. This trip was an opportunity to deepen our relationship with Mauricio, Adriana, and their team while exploring the three farms we source from: La Suiza, Finca Samaria, and Finca San Jose.

Purpose Meets Passion

The primary goal of this trip was to connect with the people behind the coffee. Meeting the producers, understanding their processes, and experiencing their commitment to quality firsthand was invaluable. For us, coffee sourcing is more than business—it’s about relationships.

Mauricio and Adriana welcomed us with open arms, sharing not only their farms but their vision for exceptional coffee. This trip was an opportunity to reinforce the trust and respect we’ve built over the years.

Immersing in Colombian Culture

Colombians are some of the warmest, most generous hosts we’ve ever encountered. Their hospitality transformed this sourcing trip into an experience we’ll cherish forever.

At Finca Samaria, we had the unique chance to join a coffee-picking competition. Split into teams led by master pickers, we had 15 minutes to harvest as many coffee cherries as possible. My team, led by

Samaria’s expert picker Don Francisco, emerged victorious—an achievement we celebrated with laughter and camaraderie.

The journey to Finca San Jose was equally memorable. We traveled in old Jeep Willys, just like local coffee pickers. These iconic vehicles, loaded with coffee and passengers, bumped along gravel roads as we held onto roll cages for the 30-minute trek.

Highlighting the Best Beans

One of the trip’s standout moments was our private cupping session, arranged by our Samaria contacts. While others attended a large group session, Daniel (Mauricio and Adriana’s son) and Juan (their Q grader) took us aside for an intimate tasting experience.

As a Q grader, Juan is a highly trained coffee expert certified to evaluate coffee quality through a rigorous grading system. Essentially, he’s the coffee world’s equivalent of a sommelier, ensuring only the best beans make it to your cup.

In this session, we sampled Samaria’s offerings and selected the coffees we’d bring back to Colorado for our cafes. The smaller setting allowed us to focus, ask questions, and truly appreciate the unique flavors of each batch.

Lessons from Colombia

Every aspect of this trip reinforced why Colombia is such a vital part of the global coffee industry. Coffee is more than a crop here—it’s a lifeline. It supports families, sustains communities, and represents the heart and soul of Colombian culture.

Through conversations with farmers and workers, we gained a deeper appreciation for the dedication it takes to produce specialty coffee. It was inspiring to see how coffee, from planting to roasting, supports so many lives.

Challenges and Reflections

While the trip was overwhelmingly positive, it wasn’t without its challenges. The winding roads to the farms tested our endurance, with car sickness tagging along for the ride. Yet even these moments added to the authenticity of the experience, reminding us of the dedication required to bring coffee from remote farms to your cup.

The Lost Coffee Connection

This trip reaffirmed our commitment to sourcing coffee responsibly and building meaningful connections with the people behind the beans. From intimate cupping sessions to sharing laughs during a coffee-picking competition, we returned with more than just exceptional coffee—we returned with stories, friendships, and a renewed sense of purpose.

Every sip of Samaria Coffee at Lost Coffee carries the warmth of Colombian hospitality and the dedication of farmers like Mauricio and Adriana. We’re excited to share these incredible coffees with you in our cafes, knowing that together, we’re making a difference.

Thank you for being part of this journey with us. Let’s raise a cup to Colombia, its coffee, and the people who make it all possible.