In the mountains, where the fresh air caresses the skin, and the aroma of Colombian artisanal coffee fills the air, stands the Nasa farm and Café of the Liz Andela family. With seven members, this family has carved out a place in the world among the rows of Cauca coffee plants that stretch to the horizon.
Life on the farm is a constant cycle, a dance with nature that never stops. There are no breaks, no days off. Coffee requires dedication, as it is a premium Colombian product, and each of them has learned from an early age that effort is the key to harvesting its fruits.
On the Liz Andela farm, coffee is not the only protagonist. The tall, generous banana plants sway in the wind, offering shade and nourishment. With its hearty roots, the yuca awaits harvesting while vegetables grow in the furrows, filling the sunny days with color. Beans and squash intertwine in a natural dance, each contributing its own essence to the life of the farm. Water springs sprout like little treasures, feeding the earth and providing life to the crops. Life on the Liz Andela farm is a reminder that in the interconnection of plants, water, and human effort, not only Colombian coffee beans flourish but also a family united by love and tradition.
“When we were children, we were always taught to love work, to care for plants, to sow, to care for the land.”
The area, with volcanic soils enriched by the fall of ash, creates a fertile environment that is the perfect home for crops. Although the eruptions sometimes bring with them a grey blanket that covers the earth, they are also a gift from nature, as the ash feeds the soil, allowing the plants to grow with strength and vitality, creating the best coffee in Colombia. The farm's history is intertwined with that of an uncle of the family, a pioneer who planted the first coffee seeds in the 70s with his curiosity and desire to learn. He attended a seminar and returned to the farm with a new dream: transforming the family landscape into a home full of life, cultivation, and prosperity.
“The idea of coffee was based on a
fair pay”.
Over time, this knowledge was passed from hand to hand until the grandparents established the coffee plantations that would later generate for their parents. Thus, the love for the land became a family ritual, where each one contributed their wisdom and experience.
In the 1970s and 1980s, farming began to expand. Although it is said in agriculture that soils cultivated for a long time tend to become depleted, the Liz Andela farm challenges that notion. The soils remain vibrant and full of life in its rich diversity of crops, where coffee trees coexist with bananas, yuccas, vegetables, and beans. This wisdom, passed down through generations, reflects the family's deep understanding of their environment. For them, regenerative agriculture, which is conscious of the land and its ecosystems, is not a rarity or a luxury; it is part of their daily life as indigenous people, an ancestral practice that has maintained the health of the land since time immemorial.
Although small at two hectares, the Liz Andela farm is full of life and dedication. With around 10,000 coffee trees, each represents the family's effort and passion. However, their annual production of approximately four tons is not enough to fully sustain themselves, so they also depend on coffee from their neighbors, with whom they have shared life and work through ancient practices such as "minga" or shared community work. However, the road has sometimes been challenging. The story of their business begins with deep pain. The family saw how their effort and dedication vanished in the face of an international economic system that treated coffee, a sacred food, with contempt. This system manipulated the market and paid for coffee at such a low price that they decided to cut down and finish off the coffee plantations in 2010 because the income did not even cover the costs of producing the food. However, instead of giving up, the family decided to adapt. That is how the family, in 2017, began to look for alternatives, diversify their crops, and strengthen their relationship with their neighbors. Together, they formed a support network, sharing coffee, ideas, and strategies to face adversity. Our efforts focused on building strong relationships with coffee growers and educating the community about the importance of valuing the work behind each cup of coffee. Transparency in payments and honest communication were essential to gain everyone's trust. Although it was a challenge at first, little by little, the community began to understand that the investment in their production was an investment in their future.
Thus, our company, founded in 2017, has become a driving force for change, where the quality of coffee goes hand in hand with the well-being of those who produce it. Every cup we offer has a story of effort, collaboration, and a deep commitment to our community. We remain dedicated to ensuring that each coffee grower receives the recognition and reward they deserve.
