la soledad - colombia - washed

Ayae Maki Fredheim is originally from Japan. She moved to Norway with her husband in 2013. That is when she discovered her love for coffee and her passion for roasting started blossoming. Aya started as a barista at a café in Oslo in 2014, began roasting in 2018, and became the head roaster in 2019. She remained in that role until 2023 when her son was born. Motherhood has a certain way about empowering women to follow their dreams. Aya started her own roastery, and after months of planning, she officially launched Hibi Kaffe in November 2024.

Hibi means daily in Japanese—better coffee for your everyday moments. Basically. Aya says: "Starting this journey has been amazing, and I’m so excited to share it with others!" Equally amazing is the way that our paths crossed and that was a pure coincidence triggered by our common interest in sourdough baking, and Aya and Leif's hevet.no collection of proofing baskets.

La Soledad is produced by Mario Gomez on his farm with the same name in Colombia. It offers a pleasant sweetness reminiscent of raisins, complemented by the fresh brightness of red currant and a gentle herbal finish. The flavors are not intense but rather soft and rounded, making it an easy and enjoyable cup.

at the farm: La Soledad is a single-farm in Pitalito, Huila, producing multiple processing methods and varieties. Mario has the ability to separate microlots based on the varieties he grows, via selective picking. He can then choose how to process these lots, giving buyers access to unique honeys, washed, and naturals from varieties like Caturrón, Pink Bourbon, Papayo, and Sidra. 

This lot has been sourced by Kawa. Kawa is a family-run Colombian trading company founded in 2014 by the Gómez family. Based in Pitalito, Huila, they specialize in exporting high-quality coffee. They work with 35 growers’ associations and over 200 independent producers across regions like Huila, Cauca, Tolima, Santander, Quindío, and Risaralda. As a certified BIC (Benefit and Collective Interest) company, Kawa is committed to transparency, fair value for farmers, and positive social and economic impact.

Every lot is fully traceable back to its farm or association, and their strict quality control system—covering farm support, sourcing, milling, and pre-shipping cupping—ensures consistency and excellence. Over the years, they have built a detailed database of regional coffee profiles, helping connect producers and buyers with clarity and confidence.

varietal: Caturron, Ombligon

processing: washed

crop year: 2025