“I grew up farming coffee with my parents. At the time we grew the most famous local coffee. When I inherited this farm 18 years ago, I started to farm technically,” explained Eli Vesga.
Improving coffee quality with the Nespresso AAA Program
“Our work with Nespresso on the Naora Limited Edition was very successful. The Nespresso AAA Program gives us the chance to produce a better coffee each day,” he continued. “Of course the financial incentive also helps, and hopefully it will increase.”
In the short time that Eli Vesga has joined the program, he has already made some changes. “You have to be more aware, taking care every step of the way in order to improve the coffee. We used to wait with depulping until the next day, for example. But it is better to do it on the same day as the coffee is harvested. And we need to start sun drying with a canopy for more consistent results. I have also made some adjustments in the drying time and the temperature in the store room.”
ID CARD
- Name: Eli Vesga Ardila
- Age: 41
- Farm: El Higuerón farm
- Location: Santander, Colombia
- Size of farm: 6.8 hectares
- Joined Nespresso AAA Sustainable Quality™ Program: 2012
As his coffee farm strives towards Rainforest Alliance certification, Eli Vesga looks to the future. “As the head of the household, I see being in the program as a guarantee for the future. It makes me proud, producing a special coffee and striving for a better quality of life for my family.”
Related story:
Naora: the fruit of a long-term collaboration in Colombia
between coffee farmers and Nespresso
