Producer Spotlight- Alirio Aguilera
Producer Profile & Coffee Feature
Alirio
Aguilera
Finca San Isidro · Precision Natural
San Isidro, Palestina, Huila, Colombia
Strawberry · Rhubarb · Hazelnut · Red Grape
To visit Finca San Isidro is to understand what a lifetime of dedication to coffee looks like in practice. Alirio Aguilera and his wife welcomed us with a full tour of the farm during our origin trip this past July, and they were some of the most gracious hosts we've ever had the pleasure of spending time with. The care they put into the farm is evident the moment you arrive.
In the cup, this coffee delivers exactly what Alirio has spent decades building toward: strawberry, rhubarb, hazelnut, and red grape, layered, precise, and genuinely unforgettable. It's a coffee that reflects a producer at the absolute top of his craft.
The Producer
Alirio Aguilera is one of the most gracious people we have ever had the privilege of spending time with. But his story is not one that starts with ease. Alirio lost his father at 11 years old. By 16, he had dropped out of school to take over the family farm and become the man of the house almost overnight.
He built what he had through sheer persistence. In the early 2000s, he entered his coffee in the Colombian Cup of Excellence and didn't win. He kept working. He kept refining. In 2013, he took first place.
Cup of Excellence — 2013
The Cup of Excellence is the most prestigious accolade a coffee producer can receive, awarded through a rigorous national and international judging process. Winning it places Alirio among a small group of producers whose work has been recognised as truly exceptional on a global stage. For Alirio, it was the result of years of quiet, determined work that began when he was still a teenager.
That gratitude runs through everything at Finca San Isidro. During harvest, the farm supports 13 workers, and Alirio's wife cooks breakfast, lunch, and dinner for the whole crew every day. It is a family operation built on decades of sacrifice, love, and an extraordinary commitment to quality.
His 11-hectare farm sits in the Guachicos River Basin in Palestina, Huila, at 1,600 metres. The microclimate here is shaped by the river basin, which provides thermal regulation and specific humidity levels that favour sugar development, particularly in demanding varieties like Pink Bourbon. Alirio grows Colombia, Caturra, Castillo, and Pink Bourbon across his fully sun-exposed hectares.
The Process
What sets Alirio apart is not just the quality of his growing conditions but the precision of his processing. His "Precision Natural" method is entirely his own, developed and refined over years to achieve a clean cup with intense fruit complexity. It's a process that demands full attention at every stage.
Precision Natural Process
- Cherries hand-selected at peak ripeness
- 24-hour oxidation phase in the cherry to concentrate flavour precursors
- Moved immediately to mechanical dryers for 4 to 5 days
- Controlled drying halts microorganism growth and preserves delicate sensory notes
The result is a cup with the fruit complexity of a natural process but the clarity and cleanliness you'd expect from something far more controlled. Alirio has full command over water activity at every stage, and it shows. Finca San Isidro today operates as what he calls a quality laboratory, where family tradition meets advanced technique.
The Varietals
On Pink Bourbon & Colombia
This lot blends Pink Bourbon and Colombia varieties, two varietals that complement each other well in the Huila context. Pink Bourbon brings floral complexity and sweetness; the Colombia variety adds body and structure. Together, under Alirio's Precision Natural process, they produce the layered strawberry, rhubarb, and hazelnut profile that makes this coffee so distinctive.
Our Relationship
This is the beginning of what we hope will be a long relationship with Alirio. We're proud to bring this coffee home and equally excited about what comes next. More of his lots are on the way, and after spending time at Finca San Isidro, we can say with full confidence that each one will be worth the wait.
