Didimo Guzman / Colombia

This year, with the support of Colombian exporter Fair Field Trading (F.F.T) and Japanese importer SYU・HA・RI, we once again purchased Colombia variety coffee from Didimo Guzman. Like last year’s lot, this coffee offers a generous sweetness, but this year's harvest stands out for its remarkably vibrant fruit character. In fact, its intensity almost reminds us of a Kenyan coffee. Bright, well-defined acidity and deep sweetness come together in a cup that is both expressive and satisfying.

Gaitania, where Didimo's farm is located, is a small settlement at the southern edge of Colombia's Tolima department. Far from the departmental capital of Ibagué, it lies deep within the Andes Mountains near the borders of Huila and Cauca. The roads in this region were once notoriously difficult—when it rained, the paths became so muddy that crossing them could take half a day.

Didimo's farm, La Brasilia, is located even farther into the mountains, in an area known as Los Alpes. Born and raised there, Didimo has been cultivating coffee for more than twenty years. Around twelve years ago, he personally helped open a road leading to La Brasilia. What had previously been a half-day journey between Planadas and Gaitania was shortened to roughly one hour. The road improved access not only to his own farm but also to neighboring farms, benefiting the entire community.

La Brasilia's coffee plots are situated between 1,800 and 1,900 meters above sea level, with the highest sections reaching approximately 1,900 meters. Didimo's home is located slightly lower, at around 1,700 meters. These mountains form part of the Nevado del Huila National Natural Park, and Planadas is one of six municipalities that share the park's territory. The region's high elevation within Colombia's Central Andes brings cool nights, warm days, frequent cloud cover, and fertile volcanic soils—conditions that allow coffee cherries to mature slowly and develop complexity.

The farm cultivates varieties including San Bernardo, Caturra, and Colombia. Among them, Colombia is by far the most prominent, with approximately 26,000 trees planted across the farm.

Didimo is meticulous when it comes to maintaining the health of his coffee trees. Every four months, he applies approximately 120 grams of fertilizer per ten trees, and every three months he clears weeds from the farm. When necessary, he also supplements nutrients through foliar feeding. He carefully manages replanting so that the average age of the trees across the farm remains between one and eight years.

One challenge that has recently become a major focus for him is controlling the coffee berry borer, known locally as Broca. This small insect damages coffee cherries and has become increasingly problematic even at higher elevations. To combat it, Didimo practices a method called "Re-Re" (Recoja y Repase, roughly meaning "pick and pick again"). Overripe cherries, dried cherries, and fallen fruit are carefully removed to eliminate breeding grounds for the pest. This approach is recommended by Cenicafé, Colombia's national coffee research institute, and is widely adopted by coffee producers throughout the country. Didimo continues this labor-intensive work with great dedication.