Direct Trade Coffee & Cacao from Colombia: Our Partnership with Iliana Delgado

At Three Fins Coffee Roasters, we believe great products start with great relationships. That’s why we’re proud to share the story behind our direct trade partnership with Iliana Delgado—whose work in Colombia is shaping the future of both coffee and cacao in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta.

A Legacy Rooted in Coffee

Iliana’s story begins with her father, Dario Delgado, a coffee producer since 1998. What started as a career change—leaving logistics and transportation behind for farming—became the foundation for a family legacy.

His first farm, Isabelita, marked the beginning of that journey. Today, Isabelita is more than a farm—it’s a brand, a symbol of dedication, and now even home to a growing line of bean-to-bar chocolate made for the Colombian market.

Building on that foundation, Iliana has spent the last 14 years working within her family’s coffee operations, helping to refine and elevate their approach to quality, sustainability, and long-term resilience.

Finca Porvenir: Where Quality Takes Shape

At the heart of our partnership is Finca Porvenir, a remarkable farm located in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, with elevations ranging from 1,050 to 1,850 meters above sea level.

This unique environment creates ideal growing conditions:

• Daily natural cloud cover slows cherry maturation

• A mix of shaded and sun-exposed coffee supports plant health

• Organic farming practices maintain a thriving ecosystem, evident in the presence of native and migratory birds

The result is coffee that ripens slowly and evenly, developing deeper complexity in the cup.

Harvest takes place once a year, between October and February, with experienced pickers—many returning year after year—selecting only cherries at peak ripeness.

From there, precision processing begins:

• Careful sorting removes imperfect fruit

• Controlled fermentation enhances flavor development

• Eco-friendly washing and mechanical drying ensure consistency

• Final milling and quality evaluation happen just minutes from the Santa Marta port

Every step is intentional, designed to preserve quality from farm to cup.

From Theory to Reality: The Cacao Journey

While coffee has long been the backbone of the Delgado family’s work, cacao represents the future.

In 2015, Iliana set out to explore a powerful idea: could cacao help stabilize income for coffee farmers? Her master’s thesis focused on integrating cacao production into coffee farms to improve cash flow and reduce risk.

But theory takes time to prove.

It took nearly eight years before the first cacao trees were successfully established at the farm. During that time, Iliana deepened her expertise—studying cacao quality in the U.S. and Mexico and immersing herself in the bean-to-bar movement.

By 2023, cacao had become a true part of the farm’s identity.

Crafting Cacao with Intention

Today, Iliana and her team carefully ferment, dry, and hand-sort their cacao beans, producing both fine cacao and nibs suited for chocolate makers and bean-to-bar artisans.

This isn’t just diversification—it’s transformation.

By integrating cacao into coffee farms, Iliana is helping create more stable, sustainable livelihoods for producers in the region, while also contributing to a growing movement centered on transparency, quality, and origin-driven flavor.

Why Direct Trade Matters

Our relationship with Iliana is built on direct trade—both coffee and cacao, meaning we work closely with her and her team, ensuring transparency, fair value, and a shared commitment to quality.

This connection allows us to:

• Support producers investing in long-term sustainability

• Bring you coffees and cacao with true origin character

• Share the real stories behind what’s in your cup—and now, your chocolate

It’s All About the Bean (and the Bar)here.

here.From carefully cultivated Castillo coffee to thoughtfully developed cacao, Iliana’s work represents what’s possible when passion, science, and perseverance come together.

We’re honored to partner with her—not just as buyers, but as collaborators in a shared mission to bring exceptional coffee and chocolate to life.

Because at the end of the day, it’s all about the bean—and the people behind it.

Shop our direct trade coffee from Finca Porvenir and explore our direct trade cacao bean-to-bar chocolate crafted from Iliana’s cacao.

Additionally, purchase a bundle that includes both coffee and chocolate from Isabelita here.