arango, Author at Arango Specialty Coffee

232 | El Plan – Gesha

Producer Brayan Moncayo	Description Floral, lemongrass, honey, plum
Process Washed, sun-dried	Varietals Gesha
Region Nariño	Elevation 1,900 meters
Position Spot	Warehouse Continental, New Jersey

Brayan has been working with coffee for more than 10 years. On his farm, El Plan, he cultivates 6,000 Castillo trees and 1,000 Pink Bourbon trees. In 2020, he expanded into exotic varietals by planting 500 Gesha trees. Brayan lives at El Plan with his wife, Marleidy; their young son, Alan; and his father, Luis. Coffee runs deep in his family—both his father and grandfather were coffee growers. Now, three-year-old Alan is already asking to join his father in the fields, just as Brayan once did at his age.

Brayan is committed to pursuing quality over quantity. He plans to continue increasing the share of exotic varietals on his farm, believing that focusing on high-quality coffees will give his family the best chance to thrive. He knows this path requires patience and effort, and he is taking each step thoughtfully and gradually.

Brayan dedicates significant time and care to ensuring the quality of his coffee. He harvests only the ripest cherries, puts them in water to identify and remove floaters, and ferments the cherries for 48 hours before depulping. The coffee then undergoes an additional 72-hour fermentation, followed by a light wash and a slow drying process on raised beds that typically lasts two to three weeks.

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200 | Cedral

Spot Continental NJ

Producer Various	Description Chocolate, caramel, sugar cane
Process Washed	Varietals Castillo, Colombia
Region Antioquia	Elevation 1,800 to 1,900 meters
Position Spot	Warehouse Continental, New Jersey

We selected a group of coffees that are balanced, sweet, and smooth for this lot. Located in the Antioquia region of Colombia, these farms have a similar altitude and microclimate. This allows for a consistent profile. Our goal with the Cedral blend is to appeal to customers that are looking for a sweet and balanced coffee with mild acidity. This coffee check all the boxes.

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202 | ARANGO DECAF E.A.

Spot Continental NJ

Producer La Miranda Community	Description Chocolate, caramel, brown sugar
Process Washed	Varietals Castillo, Colombia
Region Antioquia	Elevation 1,800 to 1,900 meters
Position Spot	Warehouse Continental, New Jersey

La Miranda is a small community located in Ituango, Antioquia, Colombia. The region is rich in fertile soils and beautiful landscapes that produce excellent coffee. However, the beauty and the remoteness of the region comes with its own challenges. For the last 40 years, this region has struggled with violence. Massacres, displacements, and extortions have made coffee farming very difficult. We have a lot of respect for people that persist and still grow coffee in these conditions. It’s also amazing to us that farmers can produce the quality of coffees that we are getting under these difficult conditions.
The lots that we selected for the decaffeination process are solid 86+ coffees. We cupped the coffees again after the E.A. decaffeination process and we were very please with the results.
We understand that when people ask for decaf coffee they do it because the flavor not the caffeine. We shouldn’t neglect decaf coffee anymore and we should treat it with respect for people that produce it as well as people that drink it. That is our goal with our decaf program.

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243 | Retoños

Spot Continental NJ

Producer Alba Zuleta	Description Chocolate, brown sugar, dry fruit
Process Washed	Varietals Castillo, Colombia
Region Antioquia	Elevation 1,800 meters
Position Spot	Warehouse Continental, New Jersey

Alba has dedicated her entire life to coffee. She began working at a young age on her parents’ farm, learning the craft from the ground up. After marrying, she and her husband established their own farm, building it through perseverance and hard work. Through coffee, Alba was able to support her four children and provide them with educational opportunities—an accomplishment she holds close to her heart.

Today, Alba cultivates approximately 5,000 coffee trees at her farm, Retoños, planted with Castillo and Colombia varietals.
Farming in Alba’s region is far from easy. Its remote location presents significant logistical challenges, making production costs considerably higher. The area has also endured years of armed conflict, adding further hardship. Alba has been displaced from her farm multiple times. Yet despite these challenges, her commitment to coffee remains unwavering—a testament to her resilience, strength, and deep connection to the land.

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15 | El Mango – Pink Bourbon

Coming soon!

Producer Gilberto Giraldo	Description Floral, jasmin, blueberries, spices
Process Washed	Varietals Chiroso
Region Antioquia	Elevation 1,800 meters
Position ETA June, 2026	Warehouse Continental, New Jersey

Like other farms in the area, Gilberto and El Mango have experienced a couple of challenging years. Dramatic climate changes in the last few years have diminished the production yield considerably. On top of that, the resurgence of activity among armed illegal groups in the region led to multiple displacements from the farm, including once during the harvest last year.

While these obstacles proved difficult to overcome, Gilberto took them in stride and is still planning for the upcoming years. He has new varietals like Chirosos and Pink Bourbon, that are mature now and is excited to experiment with different processing methods. His unwavering commitment to El Mango is evident and we are equally committed to riding out the ups and downs with him.

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242 | La Marcela

Under Contract

Producer Oliva Madrid	Description Chocolate, honey, spices, floral
Process Washed	Varietals Castillo, Colombia
Region Antioquia	Elevation 1,900 meters
Position Under contract	Warehouse Continental, New Jersey

Oliva has dedicated more than nine years to cultivating exceptional coffee. At her farm, La Marcela, she tends to 8,000 coffee trees of the Castillo and Colombia varietals. For Oliva, there is nothing more rewarding than spending her days outdoors, walking the fields and nurturing each tree with intention and care.

Her commitment extends well beyond cultivation. Oliva pays close attention to every step of the processing, a dedication that clearly shines through in the cup. The result is a beautifully balanced coffee with layered complexity and an engaging character that makes it truly memorable.

An entrepreneur at heart, Oliva has also spent the past few years roasting and selling her own coffee under her own brand—an accomplishment she is deeply proud of. With more time, or the right support to help grow distribution, she hopes to expand that side of her business even further.

Above all, Oliva loves the lifestyle that coffee farming provides. She envisions herself remaining on the farm for years to come, continuing this work with passion and pride for as long as her health allows.

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163 | Las Palomas – Chiroso

Coming soon!

Producer Wilfran Trujillo	Description Plum, floral, lavanda, honey
Process Washed	Varietals Chiroso
Region Antioquia	Elevation 2,000 meters
Position ETA June, 2026	Warehouse Continental, New Jersey

Wilfran grew up around coffee, learning alongside his father and grandfather. In 2013, he moved to Las Palomas and began planting coffee trees in partnership with his father. They are very proud of what they have built together. The farm currently has around 1,500 Chiroso trees producing cherries and another 1,500 that are a year old. Wilfran intends to expand the farm with the addition of 5,000 trees this year.
As the farm grew, so did Wilfran’s family. With his wife and daughter at the farm, life at Las Palomas has come full circle with Wilfran’s daughter learning about coffee alongside her father and grandfather.
Outside of life at Las Palomas, Wilfran enjoys playing music. He is a member of a local band and they love performing.

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68 | El Silencio – Chiroso

Coming soon!

Producer Jose Flores	Description Vibrant, citrus, caramel, peach, floral
Process Washed	Varietals Chiroso
Region Antioquia	Elevation 2,050 meters
Position Under Contract	Warehouse Continental, New Jersey

A farmer all his life, José only shifted to coffee production when he purchased El Silencio nine years ago. The small farm is home to him and his wife, Martha Lucia, and is planted with 5,000 coffee trees. Of those trees, only 2,500 are old enough to produce coffee now.

The decision to operate on a smaller scale was deliberate. All of the coffee planted at El Silencio is the delicate chiroso varietal. While it is more susceptible to disease, José believes the risk pays off with the quality of the cup. By keeping his farm small, José can monitor all stages of the harvest and processing carefully to assure the health of his plants and the caliber of his coffee.

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28 | La Paloma

Coming soon!

Producer Alfredo Piedrahita	Description Maple syrup, stone fruit, milk chocolate
Process Washed	Varietals Caturra, Colombia
Region Antioquia	Elevation 2,000 meters
Position ETA June, 2026	Warehouse Continental, New Jersey

Growing up at his parents farm, Alfredo inherited his father’s passion for coffee. When the time came to purchase his own land, he chose to stay in the area known for it’s unique fertile soil. However, his 30 years at La Paloma are not something to be taken for granted. In early 2000, violence between illegal groups erupted as they vied for control of the region. Several people were killed including one of Alfredo’s brothers and one of his cousins. After enduring these hardships, there was hope for of stability in the Colombian government’s peace treaty with the FARC in 2016. Unfortunately , different illegal groups are still interested in the illicit enterprises left behind in the wake of the treaty. Alfredo’s resilience and commitment to keep working at his farm are remarkable. We are humbled to work with people like him.

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33 | El Mango

Coming soon!

Producer Gilberto Giraldo	Description Molasses, brown sugar, chocolate
Process Washed	Varietals Colombia, Castillo
Region Antioquia	Elevation 1,800 meters
Position ETA June, 2026	Warehouse Continental, New Jersey

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