CGLE-17 Hybrid – Café Granja La Esperanza, Colombia

A rare Caturra-Gesha hybrid with Riesling-like acidity and refined floral sweetness.

Producer and Process Info

Farm: Las Margaritas

Producer: Rigoberto Herrera

Region: Caicedonia, Valle del Cauca, Colombia

Elevation: 1700 masl

Variety: CGLE-17 (Caturra x Gesha hybrid)

Process: Washed

Fermentation: 18h in open tanks + 24h aerobic after pulping

Drying: Mechanical at 38°C, 3–5 days

Cup Profile

Amazing bouquet of floral aroma. In the cup you will find notes of honeysuckle, mature cherries, kumquat and light brown sugar with a vibrant acidity and a long and elegant finish reminiscent of an Austrian Riesling.

The Story Behind CGLE-17

CGLE-17 is the result of over a decade of intentional breeding, experimentation, and refinement at Café Granja La Esperanza—a pioneering estate known globally for varietal innovation and competition-winning coffees.

The hybrid was born from the desire to unite the vibrant structure of Caturra with the complexity and aromatic clarity of Gesha. In 2011, the team began crossing selected Caturra and Gesha plants, with early plantings at Finca Potosi. The first hybrid seeds were transferred to Las Margaritas in 2014, where they were cultivated with careful observation. By 2017, a new line was selected using Gesha genetics from Cerro Azul—Granja’s renowned Gesha-only farm—marking a turning point in both cup quality and plant health.

Early harvests showed promise but lacked the depth the team was looking for. Instead of abandoning the project, they doubled down—selecting stronger, more productive trees and refining post-harvest techniques. Years of trial and improvement followed, focused not only on cup complexity but also on plant resilience and yield—ensuring the hybrid would thrive in the specific microclimates of Valle del Cauca.

Today, CGLE-17 represents the cutting edge of Colombian coffee agriculture: a varietal built from deep genetic insight, crafted for flavor, and developed to perform in the field. It stands as a symbol of what happens when long-term vision, agronomic science, and sensory dedication meet.

Behind the work is Rigoberto Herrera, a producer whose name is closely tied to some of the most iconic coffees in modern specialty history. Alongside his brother Luis, Rigoberto took over the family’s farms in the late 90s and immediately focused on transforming them from traditional estates into innovation-driven centers of excellence. Their work spans from pioneering post-harvest techniques to securing awards like Best of Panama and World Barista Championship victories.

Rigoberto’s approach blends precision with intuition: measuring Brix levels before fermentation, refining drying conditions by degree, and storing parchment under strict temperature control. Each detail is managed to preserve clarity, freshness, and depth. Coffees like CGLE-17 aren’t just harvested—they’re crafted.

This release marks the first time we’ve offered CGLE-17 at Standout Coffee, and it joins our Competition portfolio as one of the most limited and refined lots of the year. Just 90 boxes were made available—each one a reflection of a decade-long journey from seed to cup.

This release is part of our Competition portfolio, limited to just 90 boxes of 100g, available exclusively online.

Sizes and Brewing Suggestions

Available in 100g box - Only 90 boxes available

Recommended for filter brewing (V60, Kalita), or as a refined competition-style espresso

Always fresh: This item contains 100 grams of whole beans, roasted, packed, and shipped on demand for maximum freshness.