Sumapaz Coffee, knowledge that transforms

By: Alejandro García Suárez – Advisory Office for Communications.

Coffee is much more than a beverage; in Sumapaz, it represents tradition, identity, economy, and an opportunity to strengthen rural development. With this vision, the University of Cundinamarca, through the Agronomic Engineering program at the Fusagasugá campus, promotes initiatives that connect academia with the productive vocation of the territory.

The Faculty of Agricultural Sciences has been promoting training and participation spaces around the coffee chain, linking producers, marketers, suppliers, Opportunity Creators and other actors that are part of this sector.

For Jonathan Córdoba Fontecha, coordinator of the Agronomic Engineering program, coffee represents a significant economic and cultural force for the region. Therefore, the University seeks to strengthen student participation and create opportunities for them to learn about the process behind each cup. “We are promoting cultural and translocal development in our areas of influence, specifically around coffee culture. It is essential to integrate producers, marketers, suppliers in the value chain, and academia,” he explained.

One of the results of this work is the creation of the Coffee and Barista Club of the University of Cundinamarca, made up of students from different semesters of Agronomic Engineering, who have been strengthening their knowledge in preparation techniques, barismo and sensory analysis.

The purpose of the club goes beyond learning how to prepare a good cup; its members know the history and journey of coffee from production, harvesting and post-harvesting, to transformation and cup quality, understanding how each stage influences the final consumer experience.

For Sharic Escalante Cubillos, an agronomic engineering student and member of the club, participating in this initiative has meant an opportunity to combine her academic training with her experience as a coffee producer and entrepreneur at Escalante Café. “I have always believed that coffee doesn't end with cultivation; behind every cup there is science, technique, dedication, and a story that deserves to be told,” she stated.

His participation has allowed him to strengthen his knowledge in preparation, barista skills, and sensory analysis, learnings that he has also brought to his entrepreneurial venture and that, as he explained, strengthen his commitment to the production of quality coffees, innovation, and the promotion of the region's coffee culture.

Jesús Córdoba Mendoza, an agronomic engineering student and member of the club, has a similar experience. He grew up on a coffee farm and is currently part of the family business, Villa Safana, in Sumapaz. For him, the opportunities provided by the University have allowed him to approach the world of coffee in a different way and strengthen student entrepreneurship.

“We are often unaware of everything that goes into a good cup of coffee. I am sure that, at the end of this experience, we will not only see coffee in a different light, but we will also value the work of those who produce it much more,” he said.

The student invited those interested in the world of coffee and barista skills to approach the Agronomic Engineering program or contact them via email. [email protected] , to learn about the activities, courses and training spaces that the University offers related to coffee culture.

In this way, the Coffee and Barista Club becomes a meeting point between coffee tradition and academic knowledge, where students strengthen their skills, entrepreneurs find new opportunities, and the community recognizes the value behind a product that is part of the identity of Sumapaz.

This initiative reflects the spirit of the Transmodern Digital Educational Model (MEDIT), taking knowledge beyond the classroom and putting it at the service of the region. Through dialogue among different forms of knowledge, science, technology, and interaction with producers and communities, UCundinamarca trains Opportunity Creators capable of recognizing the potential of their region, generating solutions, and contributing to sustainable and transformative rural development.

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