Paola Yuliana Trujillo her coffee history began at Patio Bonito Farm with her father. She was born in Pescador, a beautiful and small coffee paradise located north of the Cauca Department, where she grew up surrounded by the delicious smell of freshly roasted coffee and quiet natural landscapes.
Paola went to the National University in Manizales to study Chemical Engineering. At first, it was a difficult experience because she was away from her family. After graduating, she worked in a soap factory for a few months. During this time, she faced a big quandary – she didn’t like her work and had no idea what her objective in life was. She then decided to return home.
At this moment, Paola’s grandmother passed away, leaving her father very sad. She proposed to manage the farm during that year’s harvest, never imagining that this proposal would change her life. Little by little, she learned the daily activities on the farm and got to know more neighbors who invited her to their farms and gave her many tips to practice at Patio Bonito.
The first year was a disaster because the prices were very low and the quality of coffee was poor. They had only one option: to “Reinvent Patio Bonito.” The way forward was through specialty coffees. They then connected with a coffee company that guided them in their first steps towards quality improvement.
Paola had the opportunity to work with many producers in Cauca, Huila, and Nariño, which further enriched her experience in the coffee industry.
Paola finds it wonderful to share experiences, learn from others, and grow together. These interactions gave her the most important reason to love her job. With each meeting, she had a new opportunity to motivate coffee workers to work in groups, focusing on sustainable productivity and quality. She’s very happy because she gave a new perspective on selling coffee, seeing hope for better well-being in the eyes of the farmers and their families – a feeling she considers priceless.
A year ago, Paola returned to her farm, and they have been working hard to increase quality and offer the best coffees. Her father, Carlos Arturo Trujillo, has been a coffee farmer for 40 years and says, “It has been a long road, but in the end it is very satisfying”. He has the family’s unconditional support in perfecting the quality processes of his coffee.
The farm spans 11 hectares, with 9 hectares cultivating 45,000 coffee trees of various varieties including Castillo, Colombia, Bourbon Rosado, Gesha, Bourbon Aji, Bourbon Sydra, SL28, WushWush, Typica (Lychee), and Laurina. The Trujillo team is passionate about their search for quality and their attention to detail in every aspect of the farm. All operations at Patio Bonito are based on four fundamental pillars: food safety, agroforestry, sustainability, and quality.
The mission of the farm is “to provide alternatives and training for farmers and students in the management, conservation and exploration of natural resources and the environment.” The family philosophy is “The best legacy we can leave our children is: love, knowledge and a planet to live on.”
