Gildardo Perdomo Rodriguez: Coffee Producer in Huila, Colombia

We're fortunate to work with people who approach coffee farming as both craft and calling. Gildardo Perdomo Rodriguez is one of those producers. His farm, Finca La Providencia, sits at 1,650 meters in Huila, Colombia, where volcanic soil and mountain air create conditions that make coffee something special.

A Place Where Coffee Thrives

Huila is where Colombia's coffee story gets interesting. The region sits between the Central and Eastern ranges of the Andes, framed by mountains and fed by the Magdalena River. Temperatures stay mild, rainfall arrives consistently, and the volcanic soil holds nutrients that coffee trees need. It's not dramatic or poetic, it's just good land for growing coffee.

Finca La Providencia benefits from all of this. At 1,650 meters, the farm occupies that sweet spot where cherries mature slowly and develop complexity. The elevation matters, the soil composition matters, and Gildardo's attention to both makes the difference between average coffee and something worth seeking out.

Growing Gesha and Pink Bourbon

Gildardo focuses on two varieties that demand care and patience. Gesha, originally from Ethiopia, produces coffee with floral notes and bright acidity. It's finicky, yields are lower than commercial varieties, and the trees need specific conditions to express what makes them worthwhile. Pink Bourbon, despite its name, likely traces back to Ethiopian landrace varieties rather than being a simple red-yellow hybrid. The cherries ripen to an unusual pink color, and the variety requires careful selection and isolation to maintain its characteristics.

Both varieties thrive in Huila's climate, but they require more from the farmer. Gildardo processes his coffees using washed methods, which brings clarity and balance to the cup. It's a straightforward approach that lets the varieties speak for themselves.

Our Time Together

The first time we visited Gildardo, he welcomed us into his home and spent the day smoking meat for us. It was generous, unhurried, the kind of hospitality that makes you feel less like buyers and more like friends.

We walked Finca La Providencia together, and Gildardo explained how his shift to organic practices has changed the farm. The soil is richer now, darker, more alive. His trees show it, some standing unpruned at over 20 feet tall, strong root systems anchoring them into hillsides where erosion used to be a concern.

He's been working with other organizations in Colombia to experiment with new varietals, testing what's possible on his land. It's not about chasing trends. It's about understanding what his farm can do and pushing those boundaries carefully.

The Work That Matters

Organic farming in Colombia isn't easy. It means building soil health through composting, managing pests without synthetic chemicals, and accepting that some years will be harder than others. Gildardo has committed to these practices because they align with how he wants to farm, not because they're trendy.

The tall trees on his farm aren't just impressive to look at. They're evidence of healthy root systems, nutrient-rich soil, and farming decisions made with the long term in mind. When trees grow that strong, it tells you something about what's happening below ground.

His experimentation with new varietals shows a willingness to learn and adapt. Coffee farming can stagnate if producers stick only to what's safe. Gildardo understands that trying new approaches, whether it's a different processing method or a new variety, keeps farming interesting and farms resilient.

Why We're Proud to Work With Him

We're thrilled to bring you Gildardo's coffee, not just because it tastes incredible, but because it represents something meaningful. It's the product of thoughtful farming, sustainable practices, and genuine dedication to the craft.

Gildardo isn't making grand pronouncements about changing the world. He's growing exceptional coffee on his family's land, taking care of the soil that will feed future generations, and treating the process with the respect it deserves. That's the kind of partnership we value, one built on shared standards and mutual respect rather than marketing narratives.

Every cup from Finca La Providencia tells the story of a producer who understands that quality coffee starts with healthy soil, careful cultivation, and attention to detail at every step. That's what makes working with Gildardo so satisfying, and what makes his coffee so worth sharing.