Coffee Details

• Name: Cata Reserva
• Expression: Blackberry, Honey, Lemon Verbena
  
• Producer: Catalina Gutierrez
• Origin: Colombia
• Varietal: Exotica XP
• Process: Semi-washed
• Format: 100g

Processing Information

Exotica XP is a rare, small-volume lot from Cata Reserva’s mixed-variety plot, where natural cross-pollination creates the potential for new and distinctive combinations of flavour. The cherries are selectively hand-harvested at peak ripeness before undergoing 120 hours of whole-cherry fermentation in sealed bags.

After fermentation, the cherries are depulped and the coffee undergoes a further 70 hours of total immersion in a panela solution. The coffee is then lightly washed, retaining part of the mucilage, before draining for 24 hours and drying in a greenhouse for approximately 15 days. Spread in thin layers, the coffee dries gradually until it reaches 10–11% moisture.

The result is a clean, expressive cup with good flavour intensity. Vibrant acidity initially brings to mind blood orange and blackberry, supported by delicate floral hints of honey and vanilla, alongside a fresh herbal note of lemon verbena. As the coffee cools, the lively acidity becomes more integrated and balanced, allowing the fruit and sweetness to come together with greater clarity.

Producer Background

Cata Reserva is a 30-hectare farm in Timaná, Huila, Colombia, situated at approximately 2,000 metres above sea level. Half of the property is preserved as native forest, providing habitat for local biodiversity and supporting long-term soil health. The cultivated area includes specialty varieties such as Gesha, Pink Bourbon, Laurina and Castillo, with seven hectares currently under active production as part of an ongoing replanting programme. Native trees provide shade across the farm, while its gradual development allows Cat and Pierre to explore the potential of the land without compromising its surrounding ecosystem.

Our relationship with Catalina Gutiérrez and Pierre Fargetton of Cata Export goes back several years, and we’re proud to work with them not only as coffee partners, but as friends. After founding Cata Export in 2019 and spending years building relationships with Colombian producers, they took the next step into farming themselves. Cata Reserva had previously belonged to Rodrigo Cortés, whose coffee they had sourced for export to Spain. Following his retirement, Cat and Pierre acquired the farm to continue its legacy and develop its potential through careful cultivation and innovative processing.

Exotica XP captures their experimental spirit. The plot brings together Gesha, Pacamara, Laurina, Pink Bourbon and Castillo. As these varieties flower, natural cross-pollination can create new genetic combinations, which is the inspiration behind the “XP” name. Produced in very limited quantities, the lot is not a fixed varietal expression but an evolving one, with each harvest offering the possibility of something different.