Meet Jairo Ruiz: Coffee Innovator at Finca Juan Martin, Colombia

When we think about the people who've shaped our journey in Colombian coffee, Jairo Ruiz immediately comes to mind. As co-founder of Banexport and the visionary behind Finca Juan Martin, Jairo has become more than a supplier, he's become a friend whose dedication to coffee excellence continues to inspire us year after year.

A Legacy Built on Innovation

Jairo Ruiz isn't your typical coffee exporter. Together with his brother Carlos Julián, he's grown Banexport from their father started, working with approximately 3,000 coffee growers across Colombia. But what sets Jairo apart is his pursuit of quality through experimentation and his genuine commitment to lifting up smallholder producers along the way. We saw this while spending time in their lab at the dry mill.

Based in Popayán, with operations spanning from Magdalena to Huila, Jairo has positioned himself at the intersection of tradition and innovation. His family background in coffee gave him the foundation, but his forward-thinking approach has transformed how specialty coffee is produced and processed in Colombia.

Finca Juan Martin: Where Science Meets Coffee

Perched in the highest area of Sotara, just 30 minutes from Popayán in Cauca, Finca Juan Martin sits at 2,050 meters above sea level. This 29-hectare experimental farm is where Jairo's philosophy comes to life. It's not just about growing coffee here, it's about discovering what's possible.

The farm cultivates an impressive array of varieties, from Gesha and Pink Bourbon to Sidra and the distinctive Red Striped Bourbon. Each variety receives individual attention, with Jairo and his team meticulously documenting everything from optimal Brix levels at harvest to specific fermentation times for each cultivar. They've even experimented with blue-tinted solar dryers after university research showed this particular UV spectrum creates ideal drying conditions.

What makes Finca Juan Martin special is its dual purpose. Yes, it produces exceptional coffee, but more importantly, it serves as a living laboratory where techniques are perfected before being shared with the broader network of producers working with Banexport. When Jairo discovers that the Colombia variety performs best when cherries are picked at what others might consider overripe, or that double fermentation can boost cup scores by one to two points, that knowledge spreads throughout the community.

Our Connection: Dancing at Best Cup

Our relationship with Jairo deepened during one of Banexport's Best Cup competitions, where Noah and I had the privilege of participating as part of the international jury. What started as a professional gathering transformed into something much more personal. The competition itself was intense, with over 1,000 microlots submitted from producers across Colombia, but it was the human connections that left the biggest impression.

The highlight came at the closing celebration. There was Noah, on the dance floor with Jairo's mother, both of them laughing and moving to the music while the whole room cheered them on. We still have the video, and it perfectly captures the spirit of what makes working with Jairo special. His family isn't just in the coffee business, they welcome you into their world with open arms.

Over the years, we've continued these conversations at various coffee events around the world. Each encounter reinforces why we value this partnership. Jairo doesn't just talk about improving coffee quality, he lives it, breathes it, and most importantly, shares it generously with anyone willing to learn.

Impact Beyond the Farm

Jairo's influence extends far beyond Finca Juan Martin's boundaries. Through Banexport's technical assistance programs, he's helped countless small producers improve their processing methods, understand quality metrics, and ultimately earn better prices for their coffee. The company provides producers with Brix meters, pH meters, and moisture analyzers, but more valuable than the tools is the knowledge transfer that happens through regular farm visits and cupping sessions.

The farm itself provides steady employment for community members in Sotara, with a focus on education and skill development. Workers aren't just picking coffee, they're learning about varieties, processing methods, and quality control. Jairo has also pushed for better compensation for pickers, understanding that quality starts with the very first hands that touch the cherry.

Environmental consciousness runs through every decision at Finca Juan Martin. Soil conservation practices protect the steep slopes, controlled undergrowth prevents erosion, and regular monitoring keeps pests and diseases in check without resorting to heavy chemical interventions. It's farming with an eye toward the future, ensuring that the land remains productive for generations to come.

Why This Partnership Matters

Working with Jairo Ruiz and sourcing from Finca Juan Martin isn't just about accessing exceptional coffee, though the quality consistently amazes us. It's about being part of a larger story of innovation, education, and community building in Colombian specialty coffee.

Jairo represents a new generation of coffee professionals who understand that sustainable success means bringing everyone up together. His experimental work at Finca Juan Martin creates ripples throughout Colombia's coffee regions, as techniques proven on his farm become standard practices that help producers everywhere achieve better quality and higher prices.

Every time we cup coffees from Finca Juan Martin, we taste the culmination of careful observation, patient experimentation, and genuine love for the craft. But more than that, we taste the product of a friendship that has grown stronger with each harvest, each conversation, and yes, each dance at a celebration party.

This is what makes specialty coffee special: the relationships that transform business transactions into meaningful partnerships, where success is measured not just in cup scores, but in the positive impact on communities and the connections that endure across continents and harvests.