FAQ

1.

WHAT IS SPECIALTY COFFEE?

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Specialty coffee is called coffee that is grown and produced under strict quality controls. To guarantee these levels of quality, Café Porte undertakes to annually carry out a complete traceability of the coffee from its origin until the roasted coffee beans reach the hands of our customers.

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According to the Specialty Coffee Association of America (SCAA), "a specialty coffee is one that does not present defects and has a distinctive flavor in the cup" For more detailed information, visit our blog "In Cup We Trust".

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2.

WHERE CAN I BUY PORTE COFFEE?

 

Right now, you can buy it in Colombia and Spain.

We also accept orders at the European level, as we have the Spanish health registry that allows us to market it in the member states of the European Union.

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We have clients in other South American and North American countries who are already enjoying Café Porte, but the purchase is made in Colombia.

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Send us an email or contact us by WhatsApp on 0034 658 750 772 and we'll explain to you the different options that we have available.

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Keep in mind that the prices indicated on the website do not include local shipping costs.

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3.
CAN I BUY IT IN COLOMBIA?

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Yes. We are committed to maintaining affordable prices to encourage local consumption and thus publicize the wonderful varieties that are grown in our country.

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Send us an email to info @ porte.coffee or send us a message via whatsapp at 0034 658 750 772 and we will indicate the prices in Colombian Pesos as well as the shipping costs.

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4.
HOW DO I RECEIVE MY COFFEE?

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If you bought your coffee in Spain or another European country, through Correos.es or a courier company such as DHL / UPS. In any case, we will find the rate that is most beneficial to you.

 

Note: If the order is placed in Madrid, depending on the volume we can deliver it personally, avoiding transport costs.

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If instead you made the purchase in Bogotá or in another city in Colombia, the shipment will be made through the Easymail company.

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5.
ARE THEY ECOLOGICAL / ORGANIC CROPS?

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Yes. From the germination process to its preparation for roasting, all processes are carried out on the farms. We have the certifications of the Association of Producers of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta that accredit it.

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Our commitment to the environment and our environmental impact led us to use BPA-free packaging.

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6.
WHAT VARIETIES DO YOU HAVE?

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We have initially focused on the commercialization of the Geisha and Castillo varieties but now we do also can offer you Tabi and Colombia Amarillo varieties.

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Starting next year, we will offer our clients in Colombia and Europe the  exotic Maragogype variety.

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You can learn a little more about all these varieties on our In Cup We Trust blog.

 

 

7.
DO THE GEISHA AND THE CASTILLO TASTE THE SAME?

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No. The Geisha variety has a sweet floral and fruity cup flavor. We can say that the Geisha variety, in terms of flavor, is more like an infusion. The Castillo variety, on the other hand, has a chocolate, sugar cane and orange cup flavor.

 

 

8.
WHAT KIND OF ROAST DO YOU USE?

 

Roasting is very complex and has many variations, but we always do a medium one. This type of roasting increases the intensity of aromas, sweetness and acidity. According to expert tasters, the compounds that make up the flavor appear in a more balanced way than in other types of roasts.

 

For this reason, medium roast coffees are used in tastings to determine the different qualities of flavors and their intensities regardless of the origin of the bean and the amount of caffeine is also slightly lower.

 

 

9.
WHY IS THE GEISHA VARIETY SO SPECIAL?

 

The Geisha variety is one of the most exotic and currently sought after worldwide, reaching prices never before seen in international auctions.

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At the altitude where the farm is located (from 1,600 to 1,700 meters above sea level), a climatic phenomenon occurs that makes this coffee different. During the morning hours, the heat of the sun condenses the water, which by noon has created dense clouds that end up falling over the coffee plantations as the afternoon falls.

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The persistent rain and mist cause the Geisha coffee bean to ripen more slowly, bringing out its sweetness and flavor.

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This variety is associated with extremely high cup quality when plants are handled well at high altitudes and is known for its delicate floral, jasmine and peach aromas.

 

Read more about our variety at our blog "In Cup We Trust".

 

 

10.
WHERE ARE THE FINCAS (FARMS)?

 

The farms are located in the extreme north of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. This mountainous massif, isolated from the Andes mountain range, rises abruptly over the coasts of the Caribbean Sea and only 42 km reaches a height of 5,775 meters. On its peaks you will find perpetual snow. It is the highest coastal mountain in the world and due to its tropical position it has a wide variety of climates and ecosystems with great biological and hydrological importance.

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The farms are home to several native forests, necessary to protect the sources of pure water, not polluted by man.

 

At the altitude where the farms are located (from 1,400 to 1,700 meters above sea level), a climatic phenomenon occurs that, in part, makes this coffee different. During the morning hours, the heat of the sun condenses the water, which by noon has created dense clouds that end up falling over the coffee plantations as the afternoon falls.

 

The farms are located in an area that has the most essential to produce a unique and special origin coffee: a wonderful land framed in the sanctuary of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta with its snowy peaks, its pure water springs and the mist that in different times of the day, covers the jungle and crops with its mantle.

 

 

11.
CAN I VISIT THE FINCAS?

 

Of course! Send us an email to info@porte.coffee , tell us your travel plan and we will help you organize it together with our coffee growers so that your trip through the magical land of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, will be an unforgettable experience.

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12.
DO YOU FOLLOW THE PRECEPTS OF FAIR TRADE?

 

Yes. We are very aware of the reality of small coffee growers, and therefore we have a fair trade policy acquiring the beans based on the Market Price.

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In this way, our coffee growers will be able to enjoy a higher profit margin, which will have an impact on their direct environment, as well as on the possibilities of consolidating their crops and the people who work in them. We also contribute to the financing of production processes and the consolidated purchase of their raw materials, achieving significant savings, thus reducing the cost of production and improving the profitability of coffee growers.

 

 

13.
WHICH COFFEE MAKER DO YOU RECOMMEND ME TO PREPARE MY PORTE COFFEE?

 

Given the characteristics of our varieties and in order to fully enjoy all their organoleptic characteristics, we recommend the drip method. This can be with a filter or drip coffee maker.

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For this brewing system, we recommend a medium grind. You can also enjoy our coffee with the piston coffee machines (we recommend a coarse grinding point and a ratio of approx. 1:13 of coffee to water) and the Italian coffee maker (we recommend a rather fine grinding point and medium heat).

 

Finally, we recommend grinding the amount of coffee to be consumed at the moment, but if you prefer to grind it all, there is no problem, as long as they keep it in our package.

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14.
HOW LONG CAN I HAVE THE COFFEE STORED?

 

To preserve the coffee, we recommend leaving it in our packaging, preferably in a dry place and if possible in the shade. Our containers are trilaminated bags, developed specifically for products such as coffee that guarantee total airtightness. By having a degassing valve, it allows the gases emitted by the grains themselves to be released to the outside, preserving their optimal state for a minimum period of a year and a half.

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Keep in mind that once the package is opened, the coffee gradually begins to lose its flavor when exposed to air and humidity, so we do not recommend storing it in glass or similar containers and keeping it in ours.

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15.

CAN I RETURN THE ORDER?

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In more than two years of activity and after having imported close to 3 tons of roasted coffee beans, we have only had to process one return of a single 250gr package. We hope this will remain the only one :)

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We understand that special circumstances may arise, so we accept returns in the following two cases:

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• Wrong order from us: you order something and we send you another.

• Due to a failure of the transport company you do not receive your order or you receive it in poor condition.

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Requesting a return because the coffee does not taste the same as a similar one from another brand is not possible. Many factors determine the flavor and aroma of each variety and although it might be the same, its flavor can be different. Remember that it is not an industrialized product but one that has a handmade character and therefore is unique and very special.