Astrid Medina / Colombia

Country: Colombia
Producer: Astrid Medina
Farm: Buena Vista
Region: Tolima > Planadas
Variety: Caturra
Process: Washed
Altitude: 1900 m a.s.l
Harvest: 2024

Astrid Medina runs a farm located at 1,816m elevation in the San Miguel village of Planadas, Tolima, alongside her husband Raul Antonio Duran.

We first visited her in 2016 and began purchasing her coffee in 2017. Due to various circumstances, we hadn't been able to buy her coffee for some time, but in 2024, we finally resumed. In 2025, we had the chance to visit Buena Vista again.

The first time we tasted her coffee, we were amazed by how fruity and brightly acidic Colombian coffee could be. While such profiles are more common now, it was a unique experience for us at the time.

Founded in 2005, Buena Vista covers 15 hectares and cultivates various varieties such as Caturra, Colombia, Castillo, Geisha, Pink Bourbon, Tabi, and Papayo. It also features a nursery for experimental cultivation.

After the tragic loss of her father in 2006, Astrid inherited 3.5 hectares and gradually bought land from her siblings, eventually owning the entire 15-hectare farm. Of this, 10 hectares are used for coffee cultivation.

On the farm, you'll find a mill for processing coffee, a parabolic dryer with raised beds, and housing for pickers during the harvest season.

At Buena Vista, washed coffees are meticulously processed. Only fully ripe cherries are hand-selected, then rested for 24 hours before depulping. They are dry fermented for another 24 hours, washed three times, sorted through flotation, and then dried on raised beds for 15–20 days, depending on the weather.

The farm has two harvest seasons: April–June and October–December. Astrid and Raul are committed to building a sustainable business model and paying fair wages to their workers.

Pickers work under challenging wage conditions, even at Finca Buena Vista. It’s vital—but difficult—to help them understand what quality work entails and why it matters.

Some pickers, driven by the need for immediate income, may abruptly leave for other farms. Without enough labor, cherries can’t be picked at the right time, reducing quality. That’s why Astrid and Raul continuously strive to build trust and mutual understanding with their team.

Astrid and Raul believe that even a single misstep in harvesting or processing can compromise quality. They emphasize the importance of shared goals, communication, and aligned values throughout production.

Though they gained recognition after winning the Cup of Excellence, most of their income is reinvested into the farm and living conditions for their workers.

Where there was once nothing, the farm now boasts state-of-the-art equipment—unmatched in Tolima—and all of it was created for the people involved in coffee production.

<A Message from Astrid Medina to Everyone in Japan>

The story of Finca Buena Vista and myself is one of unyielding passion, resilience, and a deep commitment to quality. Choosing our coffee means not just enjoying Colombia’s unique flavors, but also supporting sustainable and innovative farming. Since the year I won the Cup of Excellence, Fairfield has been my trusted export partner, and I am proud of this enduring relationship. I invite you to join us in this journey—from blooming coffee flowers to the cup that graces your table. Thank you for being an essential part of our story.