Sourcing from Café Sensia – Huila, Colombia

Located in the region of Huila, Cafe Sensia’s journey began in 1940 by Rafel Cantillo, making it one of the most established and respected coffee farms in Colombia. Over the course of three generations, this family-owned business has perfected the art of coffee production, combining traditional techniques with modern innovations. Their dedication to coffee excellence is evident in every step of the production process, from planting and harvesting to processing and exporting. Their meticulous attention to detail allows them to consistently produce specialty-grade coffee that stands out in the global market.

Local Sourcing

A key player in sourcing Café Sensia’s coffee is Producer Sebastian Cantillo. Working hand-in-hand with our EU LAB, Sebastian makes sure the coffee’s flavor profiles and quality are spot-on for European roasters. He’s constantly traveling between Europe and the farm, personally selecting beans that meet our high standards. With his deep understanding of both the European market and the farm’s production, Sebastian has a unique ability to pick out the perfect coffees. His passion for quality and attention to detail make him an invaluable part of our sourcing team.

Meet the Producer – Javier Cantillo, Finca Nazaret

Javier Cantillo continues a coffee legacy that began in 1940 with his grandfather, Rafael Cantillo, at Finca Nazaret. Now in its third generation, this family-owned farm combines traditional knowledge with modern processing techniques to ensure consistency, traceability, and refined cup quality. With the support of Café Sensia, managed by Sebastián Cantillo, the family has also developed a local roastery, allowing them to supply part of their production to the domestic Colombian market while strengthening their presence in specialty coffee.

The farm specializes in washed coffees, featuring varietals such as Pink Bourbon, Gesha, Colombia, and Castillo. Pink Bourbon offers delicate florals with tropical fruit undertones and a crisp finish, while Gesha expresses jasmine, bergamot, and tropical fruit with silky texture and balanced acidity. Colombia presents bright acidity with caramel sweetness and notes of red fruits and chocolate, while Castillo brings cocoa, brown sugar, and ripe stone fruit with a smooth, rounded body.

In addition to single-farm lots, Javier also works closely with neighboring producers to create regional community lots, mainly from Castillo and Colombia varietals, helping strengthen the local coffee network. These varietals are also used for Decaf using the Sugar Cane method. In this process, green coffee is lightly steamed to open the beans and then washed with ethyl acetate (EA), a naturally occurring compound derived from fermented sugar cane, which removes the caffeine while preserving the coffee’s natural flavors. The beans are then steamed again to remove any remaining EA and carefully dried, resulting in a decaf coffee that maintains much of its sweetness, body, and character.

Sustainability

Sustainability is at the core of Café Sensia’s operation. As stewards of the land, they practice eco-friendly farming methods that prioritize environmental preservation. These practices include responsible water usage, shade-grown coffee that promotes biodiversity, and organic farming techniques that exclude harmful chemicals. This commitment not only ensures the long-term health of their farm but also contributes to the well-being of the surrounding.

Traceability

We believe in transparent and sustainable sourcing. By partnering with producers like Café Sensia, we ensure that every coffee bean we import is traceable back to its origins. This traceability provides our clients with the confidence that the coffee they serve is ethically sourced and of the highest quality.

In addition to our commitment to sustainability, we also take pride in managing the entire logistics chain from farm to roastery. With storage facilities in both the UK and the EU, we offer flexible delivery options, including Spot purchases and pre-orders. This ensures that the coffee arrives at its destination in perfect condition, ready to be roasted to perfection.

Our Offering

☕ Lot C502 – DECAF Sugar Cane, Huila

Panela, nuts, light body, citric notes, medium acidity

☕ Lot C503 – Huila, Pink Bourbon, Washed

Caramel, sweet panela, citric, chocolate, herbal

☕ Lot C504 – Huila, Gesha, Washed

Sweet Panela, red fruits, floral