Elkin Rengifo is a 19-year-old agronomy student from the Cristo Rey rural community in Pitalito, Huila. He represents a new generation of coffee growers who see coffee not only as tradition, but as opportunity.
Elkin grew up surrounded by coffee. His family has worked the land for years, and from an early age he was exposed to farm life. But instead of stopping at what had always been done, Elkin became curious. He wanted to understand coffee more deeply—its varieties, its regions, its possibilities.
While many young people consider leaving rural life, Elkin has never thought about leaving coffee. His goal is to learn everything he can, improve his craft, and take coffee further—beyond the local market and into the world.
For Elkin, coffee is not something inherited by obligation.
It is something chosen with intention.
LA CAROLINA
Finca La Carolina is the family farm where Elkin works and learns. He describes it as both a business and a place of peace—an environment that offers tranquility, pride, and a strong connection to the land.
At La Carolina, Elkin pays close attention to how the coffee plants respond to each agricultural practice. He has learned to observe the plants carefully, understanding that their leaves and growth patterns reflect their needs. This attention allows him to make informed decisions that improve plant health and coffee quality.
His goal is to produce a clean, healthy coffee with good aroma and fragrance, recognizing that quality is the result of consistent care and thoughtful work over time.
La Carolina is not only a place of production.
It is where a young coffee grower is being formed.
A FUTURE SHAPED BY KNOWLEDGE
In just two years of direct involvement in coffee production, Elkin has come to understand that coffee is not defined solely by price, but by potential.
He has learned that well-produced coffee can reach different markets, travel beyond local boundaries, and be appreciated by people with different tastes and expectations. This realization changed how he values his own work and the effort required to produce quality coffee.
Through Unchained, Elkin envisions a different future:
Access to technology that helps improve quality
A small lab to process and evaluate coffee samples
Packaging that carries the name of his farm
Recognition for his parents, who have worked the land for many years
The possibility of exporting coffee and participating in the specialty market
More importantly, Elkin wants consumers to understand the effort behind each cup. His goal is for people not only to enjoy the coffee, but also to feel curious about the farm, the producer, and the process behind it.
The impact is not only economic. It is educational, cultural, and generational.
Unchained does more than connect coffee to consumers.
It creates a path for young producers like Elkin to build a future in coffee.
Unchained is a call to change the game. Join our list to get the stories behind the coffees, the people redefining the chain, and the drops that move this movement forward. Honest updates. Real impact.
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