Cofinet, led by brothers Carlos and Felipe Arcila, represents and supports a large number of Colombian specialty coffee growers, including many from Gaitania. The company emphasizes direct relationships between farmers and roasters, promoting sustainable and ethical practices in coffee production.
Jairo Arcila is a third-generation coffee grower from Quindio, Colombia. He is married to Luz Helena Salazar and they have two children together, Carlos and Felipe Arcila, who are the co-founders of Cofinet. Jairo’s first job was at Colombia’s second-largest exporter, working as their Mill Manager for over 40 years until his retirement in 2019.
Jairo bought his first coffee farm, Finca La Esmeralda, in 1987 where he planted his first Caturra lot. Using his savings, he gradually purchased five additional farms: Villarazo, Mazatlan, Santa Monica, Maracay, and Buenos Aires. During harvest, he provides employment to locals, which significantly impacts the community.
Jairo has received guidance from his sons, who have greatly improved the picking, sorting, and processing of his coffees. Together they grow exotic varieties including Pink Bourbon, Java, Papayo, and Gesha. This collaboration has empowered Jairo to produce coffees with exceptional flavor profiles. He also grows other crops such as mandarin, orange, plantain, and banana, and values spending time with his family.
Cofinet has pioneered co-fermentation methods, introducing unique flavors to Colombian coffee. Co-fermentation involves fermenting coffee cherries or beans together with fruits, herbs, or spices, allowing these additives to influence the flavor profile of the final coffee.
Cofinet offers high-quality decaffeinated coffees using the sugarcane (EA) method, known for preserving flavor. Examples include:
- Popayán Decaf: Sourced from 65 smallholders in the Popayán region, decaffeinated with sugarcane, maintaining sweetness and flavor integrity.
- Meseta de Popayán Decaf: Also from Popayán, showcasing citrus and toffee notes.