Cup Notes: Orange Juice, Guava, Creamy, Pink Lemonade 
 
Origin: Colombia
Farm: La Reserva
Process: Washed
Elevation: 1750masl-1850masl
Varietal: Pink Bourbon
 
 
Marlon is a third-generation coffee grower in his family. As a child, he spent a significant amount of time on his grandparents' farm, learning the basics of coffee production and marketing, from harvesting on the farm to selling in the village. After years of study he left to pursue other endeavors. However, life led him back to the farm after completing his studies as a pilot. A French friend proposed a coffee export opportunity, though Marlon admitted he had limited knowledge beyond farm-level coffee production, but he was motivated to learn so he began researching the coffee industry. By the age of 30 he was fully immersed in the world of coffee, studying everything from barista techniques to production and exportation. He joined the National Apprenticeship Service (SENA) and took coffee cupping courses, which ignited his passion for coffee and granted a perspective that revealed the vast potential for connection and earning within the coffee industry. For a time, Marlon worked at a coffee purchasing point while simultaneously planting new varietals on the family farm. He also started experimenting with coffee processing methods.
Competing in a cupping competition for the first time, he earned sixth place. After participating in four championships, Marlon is now the current national cupping champion (2024) and will represent Colombia in Geneva, Switzerland, in June. His current focus is on promoting the coffee he produces and motivating his family members to grow more specialty coffee, helping them reach specialty markets with their ever refined processing techniques.