Canta Ranas

This 100% Chiroso microlot is produced by Edward Sandoval at Canta Ranas, a 13-hectare farm located on the foothills of the Los Nevados active volcano near Santa Isabel in northern Tolima, Colombia. The region’s high elevation and cool climate create ideal conditions for vibrant, high-quality coffees.Edward is widely respected for his depth of experience, having spent many years as a technical advisor and QC cupper for Colombia’s National Coffee Federation (FNC). Raised on his family’s coffee farm, he developed a strong foundation in coffee production alongside his brother Jorge, now an agronomist.

After purchasing the long-abandoned Canta Ranas in 2015, Edward returned home in 2020 to focus fully on quality-driven coffee production. He and his family now live on the farm, complete with a sample roaster and cupping lab.Today, ten hectares are planted with coffee, over 70% of which is Chiroso—a variety Edward values for its productivity in Santa Isabel’s cool climate and its refined, expressive cup profile.

Chiroso was originally planted in the Urrao micro-region of Antioquia, where its adaptability to cooler temperatures and higher productivity made it a preferred alternative to Caturra. Over time, it has gained recognition for its distinctive and complex cup profile, attracting growing interest from specialty coffee buyers. Recent DNA research has revealed that Chiroso is an Ethiopian landrace variety, closely related to Gesha, although how it arrived in Antioquia remains unknown. While Chiroso offers exceptional quality potential, it demands careful management. Its cherries are prone to dropping easily, making the variety particularly sensitive to strong winds and elevated temperatures, which can also accelerate ripening.