9 - El Cola Roja - Costa Rica 2026 (Experimental)

#9 — El Cola Roja
Senel Campos Valverde   |   Mill: Senel Campos Valverde
The same determination that carried Senel Campos from a hand-operated pulper in 2014 to multiple Cup of Excellence qualifications today is present in every decision made at Finca El Cola Roja. The Geisha Súper Madre — a selection of Geisha mother plants chosen for their distinctive characteristics within the variety — was planted in 2022 with the specific goal of developing more complex cup profiles. This year, it qualified in both the Honey & Natural and Experimental categories, placing 10th and 9th respectively.
The Experimental lot represents Senel's most advanced processing work: a deliberate exploration of fermentation parameters applied to a genetically distinctive selection, grown at an elevation chosen precisely for its impact on flavor development. For a producer who began with no equipment and built everything from scratch through observation, learning, and relentless effort, this recognition confirms that the quality he has always believed existed in this land is real — and recognized by the world's most discerning buyers.