Colombia – Las Perlitas

The Colombia Las Perlitas coffee is grown in the hilly Huila region of Colombia, where multiple small coffee farmers tend their plants at elevations of roughly 1,600–2,000 meters. The name "Las Perlitas" means "little pearls" — an apt reference to the small, high-quality lots these farmers produce individually. On their own, each farmer’s harvest is too small to export, but by bundling the best micro-lots they create export-ready batches without compromising on quality. The result is a celebrated coffee that brings together the best of Huila and reflects these farmers’ passion and craftsmanship.

Branderij Luijendijk has given this bean a light roast. A light roast preserves the lively acids and subtle nuances of origin, allowing the floral and fruity character to shine. This roast profile is an excellent fit for filter coffee, though adventurous home baristas can also pull a clear, fruity single-origin espresso. At Luijendijk, the roast is further tailored to the brew method, so the coffee shows its best in the cup.

This coffee is characterized by a sweet, floral aroma of honey and tropical fruit, especially papaya. On the palate, floral honey notes lead, followed by lively hints of raspberry and orange. The whole is beautifully balanced, with fruity acidity and sweetness complementing each other for a rich, layered cup. Some tasting notes also mention nuances of apricot, cherry, and plum, underscoring the complexity of the flavor profile.

Las Perlitas is processed as fully washed. In this method, the cherries are depulped after picking and fermented in a controlled way for about 8–12 hours, after which the mucilage is rinsed off and the beans are then slowly dried in the sun. This traditional approach results in a clean, clear coffee taste that amplifies the bean’s inherent fruity and floral tones. The coffee’s pronounced flavors therefore don’t come from exotic fermentation tricks, but simply from excellent cultivation and careful processing.

Colombia Las Perlitas consists of 100% Arabica coffee, mainly of the distinctive Pink Bourbon variety (sometimes complemented by a touch of Caturra). Pink Bourbon is a rare coffee cultivar, arising from a cross between the red and yellow Bourbon varieties. It is known for its aromatic, floral, and sweet character. Farmers in Huila are increasingly embracing Pink Bourbon for its unique flavor and because these plants appear more resistant to coffee leaf rust, a common plant disease.

Branderij Luijendijk places strong emphasis on fair trade and transparency in the coffee chain. All the coffee they purchase is traceable back to the farmer or cooperative, and they hold to the principle that high quality must go hand in hand with fair prices for producers. The Las Perlitas concept supports smallholders because all lots, regardless of volume, are purchased as long as the quality is high enough. This gives even tiny harvests access to the lucrative export market instead of being lost in bulk. Transparency data shows, for example, that farmers for this coffee receive around $3.68 per pound, a premium well above the average market price.

Thanks to the light roast profile and expressive aromas, this coffee performs best with slow filter methods. Try a V60 pour-over or a classic Chemex to bring out the subtle flavors. Use freshly ground beans and water just off the boil (±92°C) for optimal results. A coffee-to-water ratio of about 1:16 (e.g., 15 g coffee to 240 ml water) is a good starting point for balance. Conveniently, the roastery offers Las Perlitas as both whole beans and ground (suitable for filter or espresso), so even those without a grinder can enjoy this special coffee.

Colombia Las Perlitas is highly regarded in the specialty coffee world. All micro-lots combined in this group achieve scores of at least 86 points on the quality scale, well above the 80-point threshold for specialty coffee. Some roasted lots of Las Perlitas have even received exceptional reviews, for example a Pink Bourbon Las Perlitas received a score of 94/100 on CoffeeReview.com. Coffee professionals also speak highly of this bean; one roaster calls it "one of our absolute favorites" because of its juicy, bright character.

Branderij Luijendijk packages Las Perlitas in a high-quality, resealable bag with a sleek design. The white packaging features the Luijendijk logo and a clear label with all relevant information about the coffee, such as origin, variety, flavor profile, and roast date. Thanks to a valve in the bag, the degassing process of freshly roasted coffee can take place without letting in oxygen, preserving freshness. The coffee is available in both 250 grams and 1,000 grams packages, so a small taster bag or a larger supply can be purchased as needed.

This coffee is available directly via Luijendijk’s webshop and roastery in Schiedam. A standard 250-gram package costs around €10.95 (including VAT), while a kilo bag costs about €42.50. Given the limited harvest per year, Las Perlitas is a seasonal product; the current batch is from the 2023 harvest. When it’s gone, it’s gone, so stocking up in time is recommended if enjoying this coffee until the next Colombian harvest arrives is the goal. The roastery generally roasts to order, so the coffee always arrives super fresh.