Finca Bethel

Producer

Finca Bethel

David Fernando Vargas acquired Finca Bethel 25 years ago. The farm is the family's home and their main source of income. Over the years, David shifted his focus toward specialty coffee. His main motivation was to improve his craft and to get fair recognition for the quality of his work and the terroir of his land. His approach is hands-on at every step. He harvests only ripe cherries and runs a flotation stage to remove any low-density or damaged beans before processing. We found Finca Bethel through Cuatro Vientos, a Huila-based exporter run by Yonatan Gonzalez, who we have been working with since 2024.

Finca Bethel sits in the lush Vereda El Líbano in Pitalito, where mineral-rich soils and altitude shape a clean and fruity cup.

Finca Bethel covers 19 hectares in Vereda El Líbano. The farm is planted with Caturra, Colombia and F6 varieties. Alongside the coffee, David grows fruit trees, plantains, cassava and food crops for the family. This biodiversity helps maintain healthy soil and a stable growing environment for the coffee trees. The farm sits at 1600 masl, where the altitude and mineral-rich volcanic soils contribute to slow cherry maturation and a clean, fruity cup. Processing on this lot begins with an 18-hour rest after harvest. The cherries are then depulped and fermented for 30 hours. After washing, the coffee dries slowly in covered drying sheds for 12 to 17 days. Finca Bethel is an important employer in the Pitalito area. David keeps 10 permanent workers on the farm and brings in up to 70 seasonal pickers during the harvest.