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Founded in 2018, Combia Mountain Coffee is born from the Colombian coffee empowerment rooted for four generations. The López Villada Family has brought delicious coffee and big smiles to the people who have shared it with them.
We are that family and with hearts full of love, we wish that the people who pass through our lives carry within them the warmth of our affection and the flavor of our special coffee.
As the next generation of the family, our goal is to preserve the roots of our traditional heritage while maintaining innovation and sustainability. We have experienced first-hand the dilemma of migration in rural areas and we understand that to see a great future, we must be the change.
Us
The Beginning
To begin this story we must go back to a difficult time in Colombian society: La Violencia. It was a constant struggle between conservative and liberal political parties that in previous years had already claimed many lives. One person specifically affected by this problem was Daniel "Aurelio" López along with his wife Olga Villada; who in the early 70s and after having formed a beautiful family in the municipality of Balboa, Risaralda, were threatened by a group called Los Pájaros.
Due to constant intimidation by the illegal group, the family was forced to flee the place where they had built a stable base. After several residences, the family finally found refuge in Pereira.
In the Alto Erazo area, Combia Alta, Aurelio was offered a piece of land that included a house, and he accepted the deal without hesitation. When Aurelio took his family to see the place, they were shocked: It was very cold, it was always surrounded by fog, and they had to climb the mountain to see a house that was about to fall down, surrounded by dry plantations, where the latrine was still used, and with a skeletal dog who - as if that weren't enough - greeted Olga with a welcome bite. Everyone's tears were not long in coming.
A new house
After a few years of living there, Aurelio decided to build a new house with his own hands, closer to the road and one that would be pleasant for his entire family. Little by little, with effort, dedication and love, Aurelio López built the new home of Finca Buenos Aires. From here, new dreams and aspirations began to take shape in each of the family members. Fantastic stories have happened in this house, sometimes you can hear them talking until 4:00 am making jokes, telling old stories or simply enjoying a good cup of coffee.
Days of pain: Several decades later, a coffee crisis occurred and Finca Buenos Aires was affected. An outbreak of rust (a disease of the coffee tree) was destroying the plantations. Even more painful, Aurelio became ill with sclerosis. Sadly, the man who laid the foundations for the construction of this home passed away in 2004. He left an immense void in the family, but also a number of lessons. His wife, children and grandchildren could only do one thing: join together and give as much love as they had never done before.
Matriarchal Resilience: From here begins a new stage in the family. The farm had always been managed by a man with strong traditions. Now Olga Villada, together with her daughter María Idally "Dali", began to manage the coffee production and the farm's processes. Idally, above all, takes on a fundamental role. With the support of her mother, her brothers, her husband and children, she decides to leave her home in the city and her job as a stylist to move to her mother's home. Despite having been raised on a farm, Idally never worked in the fields. Aurelio did not allow his children to pick coffee; he wanted them to have a different lifestyle. For this reason, the Risaralda Coffee Growers Committee was Idally's coffee school.
She herself says: "I left the scissors to cut hair in the city and entered the countryside to work with love and passion."
The women in this house are powerful. They have the wisdom and courage to live fully. They have raised children, created their own lives, and forged pure trust in their family members. Thanks to them, our home stands strong with solid values. Thanks to them, we have remained united.
Entrepreneurship
Little by little, with the help of the Risaralda Coffee Growers' Cooperative, associations and the Federation of Coffee Growers of Risaralda, the technical development and quality certification began. The road, despite being difficult, opened the doors to new ideas and projects. The love for coffee and the countryside continued to be instilled as a sign of respect for tradition. Now there is a new generation in the family: Alejandro Bedoya (Idally's son) shows the fruits of these teachings by becoming a taster in the region. The farm begins to produce high quality coffee, becoming a role model for other coffee growers. At this point, the Buenos Aires Farm begins to sell its own products ! A large number of visits from tourists and foreigners also begin, giving added value to the farm. In a community unfamiliar with other cultures, the opportunity to share with people from other countries seems like a dream come true. Thus, the family's dreams grew more and more quickly. Each member has a skill and ability to collaborate with the farm, from food and art to communication and tourism.
Combia Mountain Coffee: It is vital to give names and structure to all these ideas, which is why they are being embodied in a new company. Alejandro is the pillar for the foundation and development of this dream. We want to impact the economy of the place where we live. We hope that through our products and services, the community of Combia Alta will benefit. We seek to share the union that we have maintained for decades, the tradition and heritage that remains intact. We are a family that wants to welcome others. The strengths of each one of us are integrated for the common good. The construction of the Cabaña Arábica brings more creativity to the house.
Thanks to Luis Trujillo and Patricia López there are more ideas to enjoy with new clients.
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