Gloria Ortega - Colombia

Jammy and berry-like, reminiscent of black currants, red grapes and cranberries.

Origin: Colombia
Region: Sevilla, San Agustín, Huila
Producer: El Progreso
Elevation: 1870-1920 masl
Variety: Pink Burbon
Process: Washed

Cherries are collected every three weeks, and the cherries are left to ferment in sealed bags for 24 hours before being de-pulped the next day. After de-pulping, the coffee mass undergoes a dry ferment of 36 hours in tiled tanks. The seeds are then rinsed and left to drain in bags for three hours before being moved to the solar dryer, where they are dried for between 15 to 20 days.

Roasted for: Filter


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Gloria’s journey is one defined by strength, determination, and a deep-rooted connection to coffee. A single mother and recent divorcée, her life took a dramatic turn during the COVID-19 pandemic, forcing her to start from scratch. 

She was born in the vereda of Sevilla outside San Agustín, Colombia, and began working as a coffee picker alongside her grandfather and aunt from a very young age. Due to the harsh economic conditions at home, she had to leave school during elementary years to support herself. Throughout her teenage years, she traveled across rural veredas in search of work, eventually meeting her future husband, Alberto.

They married when Gloria was just 18, and moved to Llanada de los Naranjos where Alberto found work as a farm administrator. Gloria continued picking coffee, and after four years, the couple returned to Sevilla to purchase what would become their farm: El Progreso. The land was in poor condition, overgrown with aging Typica and Caturra trees, but they poured their energy into revitalizing it. Production flourished, and for a time, they made a solid living selling coffee on the conventional market.

In 2010, with their children’s education in mind, they relocated to San Agustín and managed the farm from town. However, as visits to the farm grew less frequent and personal tensions escalated, they decided to divide the property and hand off management.

Gloria took a bold step during this time: returning to school. She earned her high school diploma through the Pacifist Diploma, a government program designed to support marginalized Colombians through education, peace-building, and human rights. She graduated in 2013 at the age of 35.

The final separation from Alberto came in 2020, brought on by the strain of the pandemic. Gloria retained El Progreso, but the house was barely livable, and she and her children stayed with neighbors while slowly rebuilding. One of those neighbors was Don Daniel Ortega, a pioneer of specialty coffee in the region and a founding member of Monkaaba. Inspired by his journey, Gloria began envisioning a new future for the farm.

With her share from the sale of a store she once owned with Alberto, she built a basic home on the farm and began replanting. Guided by Don Daniel’s mentorship, she introduced over 2,000 Pink Bourbon trees and rejuvenated her 3,000 Caturra trees.

From 2020 to 2022, Gloria sold her coffee through conventional channels, focused on stability. But her sights were set on something greater. In 2023, with help from her cousin and “brother” Gildardo Ortega, she officially joined Monkaaba.