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Castillo

Castillo is a Colombian-bred composite variety developed by Cenicafé and released in 2005 to provide farmers with a high-yielding, disease-resistant alternative to the highly susceptible Caturra. Its genetic lineage stems from a cross between Caturra and the Timor Hybrid, an interspecific hybrid that provides the plant with robust, multi-gene resistance to coffee leaf rust. In the field, the plant is characterized by a compact, dwarf stature and is often managed as a collection of regional and zonal lines rather than a single uniform cultivar. While early specialty market skepticism suggested it lacked the quality of traditional varieties, blind cupping trials have demonstrated that high-grown Castillo can compete with Caturra, offering a cup profile often noted for red fruit, caramel, and balanced acidity. Its widespread adoption was critical to the survival of the Colombian coffee industry during the 2008–2011 rust epidemics, making it a vital tool for both producer stability and consistent supply for drinkers.

TagsCastilloArabicaColombia varietyTabiCaturra
Where did it come from?

Castillo came from Cenicafé's decades-long rust-resistance breeding program (Caturra × Timor Hybrid lineage), and is named for researcher Jaime Castillo. When the 2008-2011 rust epidemics devastated Colombia, Castillo was the backbone of the replanting effort.

What does it tend to taste like?

Balanced, sweet, approachable — soft citrus, caramel, gentle body. Modern lots cup far closer to Caturra than early critics claimed.

Plant characteristics

Vigorous, compact plants; some strains with larger cherries.

Why producers grow it

It protects the harvest. Rust can erase a farm's income in one season; Castillo keeps families farming through outbreaks, and its cup quality keeps improving through later selections.

Sources & further reading

Editorial record last reviewed: . Sources document specific claims, not guarantees about every coffee sold under this variety name.

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