Colombia — Víctor Alfonso Bonilla Aruzi

Tastes Like — 🍒 Black Cherry • 🍫 Chocolate • 🫐 Date

DETAILS

• Producer: Víctor Alfonso Bonilla
• Farm: Finca La Chorrera
• Region: La Argentina, Huila, Colombia
• Varietal: Bourbon Aruzi
• Process: Washed
• Altitude: 1900 masl
• Size: 125g

INTRO — A Rare Bourbon Mutation from a Dedicated Specialist

Bourbon Aruzi is one of specialty coffee's most intriguing mysteries. This rare variety has won Cup of Excellence competitions and impressed cupping tables worldwide, yet its lineage remains uncertain. What we do know is that when cultivated by someone as dedicated as Víctor Alfonso Bonilla, it produces exceptional coffee—stately, balanced, and deeply satisfying.

Víctor's 3.5-hectare farm is devoted entirely to Aruzi, with over 5,500 trees now in production. As a third-generation coffee grower and Q-Grader, he's combined family knowledge with professional expertise to become one of the world's leading specialists in this enigmatic variety. This lot represents years of refinement—Aruzi trees maturing beautifully and Víctor's processing precision reaching new heights.

THE PRODUCER — Víctor Alfonso Bonilla & Finca La Chorrera

Víctor has been involved in coffee since childhood, but his journey as a producer began deliberately and thoughtfully. In 2013, he became a Q-Grader, and exposure to exceptional coffees at cupping tables inspired him to produce his own. He started with Finca Villa María in 2015, where he perfected post-harvest processing and discovered the rare Bourbon Aruzi variety.

What sets Víctor apart is his focus. Whilst many producers diversify across multiple varieties, Finca La Chorrera is dedicated entirely to Aruzi. This singular focus allows him to understand every nuance of the variety—how it responds to different fermentation times, what drying schedules produce optimal results, how the trees perform as they mature year after year.

Located in Vereda El Progreso, La Argentina, Huila, the 3.5-hectare farm sits at 1,900 metres above sea level. The combination of high altitude, cool temperatures, and Víctor's meticulous care creates ideal conditions for Aruzi to express its distinctive character. With over 5,500 trees now in production, Víctor has the volume to maintain consistency whilst still treating each lot with the attention it deserves.

As a Q-Grader, Víctor approaches coffee production with both the practical knowledge of a farmer and the analytical skills of a professional taster. This dual perspective informs every decision he makes, from harvest timing to fermentation duration, always with the goal of making the best Aruzi possible.

THE PROCESS — Precision Washed Method with Eco-Conscious Practices

Víctor's processing method balances traditional Colombian techniques with modern efficiency and environmental responsibility. The protocol is carefully controlled at every stage:

• 🍒 Selective Harvesting — Only ripe cherries are picked from the Aruzi trees
• ⚙️ Same-Day Depulping — Cherries are depulped on harvest day to preserve freshness
• 🔬 36–40 Hour Sealed Fermentation — Wet parchment ferments in sealed barrels for precise control
• 💧 Eco-Mill Washing — An Eco-Mill reduces water consumption whilst ensuring thorough washing
• 🏠 Marquesina Drying — Parchment dries in covered structures (marquesinas) for 15–18 days, depending on weather

The sealed barrel fermentation is crucial—it allows Víctor to control oxygen levels and temperature more precisely than open-tank fermentation, developing complexity whilst maintaining clarity. The Eco-Mill washing represents his commitment to sustainability, significantly reducing water usage without compromising cup quality. The extended drying in marquesinas protects the coffee from weather fluctuations whilst allowing gradual, even moisture removal.

THE CUP — Comforting Dried Fruit with Buttery Texture

This is Aruzi expressing the maturity of both the trees and Víctor's expertise. The cup is stately and straightforward—no tricks, no gimmicks, just exceptional coffee handled with care. There's a comforting quality to this lot, with its balanced profile of dried fruit, condensed sugars, and notably buttery texture.

Flavour Notes

• 🍒 Black Cherry — rich, dark fruit character with dried cherry intensity
• 🍫 Chocolate — deep cocoa notes adding structure and satisfaction
• 🫐 Date — condensed sugar sweetness with dried fruit complexity

The body is medium-plus, providing substantial presence without heaviness. The sweetness level is equally generous—medium-plus—whilst the acidity remains mellow and approachable. The buttery texture is particularly notable, coating the palate with a luxurious mouthfeel that makes this coffee genuinely comforting to drink.

This is Aruzi at its finest—a variety that's still revealing its secrets to the coffee world, cultivated by a producer who's dedicated his career to understanding it completely.