In 1945, Rigoberto’s father, Juan Antonio Herrera expanded coffee crops on the acclaimed Potosí farm by introducing Yellow and Red Bourbon, and Caturra varieties alongside the existing Typica, marking the beginning of Café Granja La Esperanza. Despite the challenges posed by changes in Colombia and the international coffee market, the farm thrived with the help of family labor. To further their organic production, they acquired another farm in the Trujillo region, La Esperanza. In 2007, Rigoberto leased and managed "La Carleida" in Boquete, Panama, winning first place in the “Best Coffee of Panama” competition in 2008. This success inspired him to bring Geisha seeds to Colombia, starting a new chapter for Granja La Esperanza. Today, Café Granja La Esperanza excels in producing and commercializing specialty coffee varietals, overcoming the challenges of adapting these varietals to Colombian conditions and competing globally.
The Mokka variety (pronounced like mocha) is named after the Yemeni region where coffee cultivation began, although it actually originates from the island of Maui in Hawaii. This isolation allowed the Mokka variety to evolve uniquely. While its cherries are similar in size to other varieties, the beans are notably smaller. The Mokka coffee offers a dense and lactic body, complemented by intense floral aromas and bright, fruit-forward notes.
