Colombia | Area 18 | Castillo | Natural

Region: Punta Larga, Popayán, Cauca 

Elevation: 1780 masl 

About: Area 18 is a collaborative project established in 2024 with the goal of rethinking how coffee can be utilised beyond the bean itself. Bringing together three companies focused on sustainability, processing innovation, and agricultural development, the initiative explores ways to maximise the value of the coffee fruit while reducing waste through circular production practices. 

This Castillo natural lot was produced at Agroparque Las Villas in Punta Larga, Cauca, a farm and ecological project founded near Popayán in 2012. Originally centred around ecotourism, rural lodging, and biodiversity conservation, coffee has gradually become central to the property’s identity and agricultural work. 

Following sorting and cleaning, the cherries are placed into a controlled bioreactor environment for 48 hours. Oxygen flow, temperature, and other environmental variables are carefully regulated to encourage the activity of naturally occurring yeast strains present on the Castillo cherries. As fermentation progresses, these microorganisms consume sugars within the pulp and mucilage while developing aromatic compounds that shape the coffee’s final profile.

This Colombia | Area 18 | Castillo | Natural comes from Agroparque Las Villas in Cauca's Punta Larga region, where the coffee grows at 1780 masl. Proud Mary Coffee has selected this Castillo varietal processed as a natural—a method that typically encourages fuller body and fruit-forward character compared to washed alternatives. Castillo was developed for disease resistance and productivity, yet thoughtfully sourced lots like this demonstrate the varietal's capacity for complexity when grown at elevation and handled with care. The natural processing style invites greater interaction between fruit and bean, shaping the cup's eventual character.