A technical analysis of how the Intertropical Convergence Zone and ENSO phenomena affect specialty coffee production at 1,700 MASL, featuring insights from Yeradine Castro.
In the specialty coffee industry, quality is not a coincidence; it is the result of precise management of environmental variables. Currently, the Northern Tolima and Caldas regions are facing a significant climatic challenge stemming from alterations in the Pluviometric Regime, regulated by the ITCZ (Intertropical Convergence Zone). This phenomenon has extended cloud cover and rainfall, disrupting the biological cycles necessary for an optimal harvest.
Biological Dynamics and Resilience: The 1,700 MASL Factor Altitude is a determining factor in the complexity of a cup profile, but under conditions of excessive water, it becomes a critical risk variable. In the Reforest Project, we rely on the technical testimony of Yeradine Castro, a leading producer situated at 1,700 meters above sea level (MASL) and the valedictorian of the Reforest 2025 graduation class.
Yeradine reports a systematic delay in the physiological ripening of the fruit due to extreme conditions:
In the specialty coffee industry, quality is not a coincidence; it is the result of precise management of environmental variables. Currently, the Northern Tolima and Caldas regions are facing a significant climatic challenge stemming from alterations in the Pluviometric Regime, regulated by the ITCZ (Intertropical Convergence Zone). This phenomenon has extended cloud cover and rainfall, disrupting the biological cycles necessary for an optimal harvest.
Biological Dynamics and Resilience: The 1,700 MASL Factor Altitude is a determining factor in the complexity of a cup profile, but under conditions of excessive water, it becomes a critical risk variable. In the Reforest Project, we rely on the technical testimony of Yeradine Castro, a leading producer situated at 1,700 meters above sea level (MASL) and the valedictorian of the Reforest 2025 graduation class.
Yeradine reports a systematic delay in the physiological ripening of the fruit due to extreme conditions:
"At this altitude, the clouds stay with us. With constant rain, the mist doesn't lift, and the cold makes the coffee take much longer to ripen. This year, my harvest was delayed for weeks because the sun simply wouldn't appear to give the cherry its final touch. It is an agonizing wait, but thanks to the technical training at Reforest, we know we cannot harvest prematurely if we want to maintain specialty standards."
Technical Analysis: Challenges of the 2026 SeasonTo understand the scale of the situation at Finca El Vergel and its allied projects, it is essential to analyze the data collected during this harvest:
- Interruption of Hydric Stress: Coffee flowering requires a controlled period of water deficit. This "stress" acts as the biological trigger for flower buds. The absence of dry phases due to incessant rain prevents uniform flowering, resulting in fragmented harvests.
- Critical Moisture Management: International export standards require an internal moisture content between 10% and 12%. Achieving this parameter with ambient relative humidity exceeding 85% requires advanced technical management. In our marquesinas (greenhouses), the dehydration process has slowed by 50%, demanding constant monitoring to prevent microbiological defects such as mold or phenol.
- Photosynthetic Deficit due to ENSO: Phenomena such as La Niña increase cloud cover, limiting photosynthesis. This directly affects the synthesis of flavor precursors. In response, we have adjusted our controlled fermentation protocols to optimize the chemical structure of the bean and preserve the bright acidity characteristic of Tolima.
Conclusion: Quality as a Technical Priority
The delay in the availability of the 2026 harvest lots is not a logistical failure, but a technical decision oriented toward excellence. Producers like Yeradine Castro demonstrate that training and patience are tools as vital as the soil itself. At El Vergel and Project Reforest, we understand that resilience implies respecting nature's timing.What It Takes is, ultimately, the commitment to apply science and patience where others would apply speed.
