This coffee is produced by Sergio Caro at his farm, Los Pinos, located in Urrao, Antioquia, Colombia. Grown at an elevation of 2378 meters, this Chiroso variety coffee is processed using a washed method involving fermentation in both open and plastic tanks. The cup profile is bright and floral, featuring distinct tasting notes of apricot, cardamom, maple syrup, and jasmine.
Rebecca Grossman and Lucas Smith founded Ilse in 2019, starting with a thousand dollars and a rented roaster in Stamford before building out their own facility in a converted mechanic's garage in North Canaan. The approach is quality-driven: light roasts, single-producer microlots, and a commitment to buying entire harvests from the same farms year after year, some relationships now stretch back to the beginning. Pricing is transparent; each bag lists what the producer was paid, the FOB price, and Ilse's cost. Sourcing focuses on Central and South America and East Africa, with Costa Rica, Honduras, Colombia, and Ethiopia appearing regularly.
