Colombia - Marcela Castellanos (RIP)

LIGHT ROAST

Tastes Like: Brioche Cinnamon Roll, Ben & Jerry’s Cookie Dough
Process: Honey Process, Cinnamon Infusion
Varietal: Castillio
Region: Armenia, Quindio
Good For: Manual Brewing / Pour Over

This coffee is the last harvest of Colombian fermentation pioneer, Marcela Castellanos.

A doctor by profession, Maria - along with her husband - planted their small lot farm in Armenia, Quindio with exotic varieties like Pink Bourbon, Java, Gesha, and Laurina.

Using a scientific approach with innovative methods, they soon became renowned amongst coffee echelons as they continued to develop their land into a rare and boutique expression of speciality coffee.

Several years ago, Nightjar Coffee purchased a limited range of micro and nano-lots from Maria. We then broke down the green beans into smaller vacuum pack batches and place under cryo-freezing. A relatively new technique in the speciality coffee field, this enables roasters to preserve and extend the shelf life of rare and unique coffee. Like fine wine, the cryo-storage technique rarifies the crop until such time that it can be released in future years or for special occasions.

Sadly, three years ago Marcela contracted an incurable disease and recently passed away. This nano-lot is Marcela’s last ever harvest and processing, and it is a honour for Nightjar to roast this coffee in 2026.