Emerald Series: El Recreo
  • C-Market at purchase time = $3.93/lb
  • Paid price for El Recreo = FOT $9.45/lb

All our coffee is roasted on Mondays, and always ships out the same week: 

  • Orders before Tuesday 8:00 am PST: Ships out on Tuesday.

  • Orders before Wednesday 8:00 am PST: Ships out on Wednesday.

  • Orders before Friday 8:00 am PST: Ships out on Friday.

  • Orders after Friday 8:00 am PST will be shipped out the following Tuesday.

  • Coffee or other perishables: Not eligible for refund.

Emerald Series: El Recreo

Tucked into the lush hills of Palestina, Huila, El Recreo stands as a testament of four generations devoted to coffee. This vibrant eight-hectare farm is owned and operated by José Albeiro Arias.

Coffee grower
José Albeiro Arias
Notes in cup
Cherry, Caramel, Dark Chocolate
Origin
Colombia, Huila, Palestina
Varietal
Pink Bourbon
Process
Natural
Quantity
Locked flat shipping rate of $6.99 (USA territory).
  • C-Market at purchase time = $3.93/lb
  • Paid price for El Recreo = FOT $9.45/lb

All our coffee is roasted on Mondays, and always ships out the same week: 

  • Orders before Tuesday 8:00 am PST: Ships out on Tuesday.

  • Orders before Wednesday 8:00 am PST: Ships out on Wednesday.

  • Orders before Friday 8:00 am PST: Ships out on Friday.

  • Orders after Friday 8:00 am PST will be shipped out the following Tuesday.

  • Coffee or other perishables: Not eligible for refund.

A Place Held Over Time

El Recreo rests in the hills of Palestina, Huila, shaped by four generations of the Arias family. The farm spans eight hectares, five devoted to coffee and the remainder woven with corn, beans, and fruit trees. This diversity is intentional, shade, soil health, and balance are treated as essential elements rather than supporting details. A natural spring crosses the land, protected with care, quietly sustaining both the ecosystem and the coffee that grows from it.

Stewardship & Method

Under the guidance of José Albeiro Arias, El Recreo operates with a measured sense of responsibility. Rainforest Alliance certification reflects this commitment, though the philosophy extends further. Since 2015, the farm has been part of the Agricultural Extension Management Nucleus, a collaborative model built on shared learning and regenerative practice. Experience leads here, but curiosity remains present.

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A Generational Exchange

José Albeiro now works alongside his nephew, Maicol Arias, whose openness to experimentation brings gentle evolution to long-held practices. Their focus remains steady: consistency in the cup, thoughtful productivity, and long-term resilience. Progress arrives without urgency, guided by observation rather than trend.

In the Cup

Processed as a natural, this Pink Bourbon unfolds with a deep fruit character. Notes of ripe cherry lead, supported by caramel sweetness and a grounding layer of dark chocolate. The profile is rounded and composed, offering depth without weight.

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F.A.Q.S

Why do you exclusively offer Colombian coffees?
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From the very beginning of The Boy & The Bear – Coffee Roastery, our mission has been to uphold a commitment to genuine and transparent coffee processes. We take pride in meticulously overseeing the journey from coffee crop to your cup to ensure we serve nothing short of the best. Our dedication extends beyond coffee; it's about sharing our rich Colombian culture with our community

At The Boy & The Bear, it's not just about the specialty Colombian coffees. It's an immersive experience that encapsulates Colombian culture, its vibrant people, spirited music, and everything that embodies the positivity and liveliness of our country. As our founder, Andres Piñeros, beautifully puts it: "The Boy & The Bear – Coffee Roastery is a magical surrealism of the Colombian coffee experience and the culture that surrounds it." We invite you to savor this enchanting journey with us.

Do you offer pre-ground for espresso?
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We don’t offer pre-ground espresso because every machine is different. It is never a "one size- fits all".

For the best results, we recommend grinding fresh to match your setup.

Perfect brewing recipe for Filter coffee
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At the Boy and the Bear, we pride ourselves on staying ahead of the industry and having a deeper understanding of coffee extraction.

Utilizing physics and data collected by ourselves and our colleagues, we have come to the conclusion that the ideal ratio for filter is 1 gram for every 17 grams (or milliliters) of water.

Our ideal beverage yield is:
10oz or 295 grams, to achieve this, we use 20 grams of coffee and 340 grams of water.

Since our coffees are a lighter development, we recommend using water in the 201° - 203°F. And remember, the better your water = the better the coffee.

For any further help or questions, email us or visit one of our cafes and ask one of our knowledgeable staff.

Happy sipping!

Perfect brewing recipe for espresso
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While espresso can be a more involved extraction, a good starting point for all of our coffees is:

1:2; 1 gram of coffee for every 2 grams (or milliliters) of water.

In the cafes, we currently use 16 grams of coffee for 34 milliliters of extracted coffee at around 30 - 32 seconds in time with ideal water quality.

Since our coffees are a slightly lighter development than most, we recommend using water around 201 - 202°F.

To trouble shoot your espresso extraction, grind your coffee finer if the espresso is sour or coarser if it is bitter to taste. To increase sweetness, increase your yield. To increase body, reduce the yield.

For any further help or questions, email us or visit one of our cafes and ask one of our knowledgeable staff.

Happy sipping!

What is the ideal resting period for brewing our coffees?
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When coffee is fresh out of the roasting process, the CO2 retention is at the highest point it could possibly be at. Within the first 4 - 7 days, coffee releases 90% CO2 and 10% nitrogen from the roasting process, making 7 - 14 days off roast the peak consumption time for filter coffee.

Espresso is slightly more forgiving and can still extract incredible flavors up until 6 weeks from the initial roast date.