San Cayetano – A Day On a Coffee Farm

On the Way to the Coffee Farm

We were picked up in the morning by Ana and found out that she would be our guide and driver. San Cayetano is a historic coffee farm established in 1910.  It was the very first coffee farm to commercially cultivate coffee. The farm is about two hours outside of Medellin.

Here are a few pictures I took along the way:

Ana stopped at a roadside stand to pick up our lunches.  We weren’t asked what we wanted so I guess we were going to be surprised.

San Cayetano – Coffee Farm

We finally entered the San Cayetano coffee farm.  The house was amazing and totally fit into the beautiful mountainous environment.

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I loved the open-air feeling of the house and all the plants and flower arrangements made a welcoming atmosphere.  There was a housekeeper on the site and she treated us to homemade cookies and a refreshing fruit drink.

We had a lot of fun taking pictures in the house and on the grounds.  There was a beautiful pool and what a view to enjoy while swimming!

It was time for lunch so we sat at the huge dining room table and had our banana leaf meal.  Opening up the banana leaves, I found white rice, plantains, arepa, and potatoes. Shawn had the same only with fried pork belly (chicharron). I think we had our fill of Colombia’s unofficial national dish.  The dish is actually called Bandeja Paisa and is the most traditional dish of the Antioquia region. It is a modern interpretation of the peasant food that is designed to fill the stomach and give energy to those working in the fields.

A Look at the Coffee Beans Up Close and Personal

After lunch, we went for a ride into the coffee fields where we were told about the coffee bean and how it is harvested. The beans are actually hand sorted to remove any defects or foreign materials. Coffees from Antioquia are known for their medium body and smooth well-balanced taste.

We also saw the machinery used by the company to cull the final coffee beans and I learned about how they make a good cup of coffee in the lab.  All in all, it was a very interesting day, but it was getting late and we had a long drive back to the hotel.

I took some last photos of the lovely pink bougainvillea and the mountain view.

We were happy to arrive back at the hotel and have a rest before we went to dinner. Next post – a trip to the hillside favelas.