María Elena Pulgarín
Coffee with Tradition and Ecological Commitment
In the mountains of Apía, Risaralda, in the Agualinda village, lies the Finca El Betel, a place where coffee tradition and love for nature have been passed down through generations.
María Elena Pulgarín, the current owner, is the guardian of this family legacy that began with her great-grandmother, then passed to her grandmother, followed by her father, and now rests in her hands, with the mission of preserving its essence and strengthening its high-quality coffee production.
At an altitude of 1,460 meters above sea level, Finca El Betel has five areas dedicated to coffee production and two protected areas, reflecting María Elena’s commitment to sustainability and ecological balance. Her coffee plantation consists of the Castillo variety, carefully cultivated without the use of chemicals, allowing biodiversity to thrive. Thanks to these practices, her farm is a refuge for numerous species of birds and bees, which find a safe and nurturing habitat in this environment.
In 2017, María Elena made the decision to innovate in the processing of her coffee, starting the production of natural coffee. Her meticulous process begins with the selection of cherries, ensuring that only the fruits in optimal condition continue in the production chain. Then, the drying process is carried out in two phases: first, for two days directly under the sun, and later on African beds, where the beans reach the ideal point to highlight their unique flavor profile.
