{"product_id":"coffee-82","title":"Ecuador - El Lojano Natural","description":"\u003ch3\u003eThe Story\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEl Lojano comes from three producers in Ecuador’s Loja province who are rethinking what natural coffee from their region can be. In much of southern Ecuador, natural coffees are traditionally produced as \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003ebola\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e—whole cherries dried with little sorting and sold into the local commodity market. By focusing on careful cherry selection and slow drying, these producers are showing the brighter side of naturals from Loja. The result is a vibrant cup with notes of watermelon, dried mango, and mixed berry.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis collaborative lot brings together coffees from Inés Jiménez, Luis Jima Pardo, and Fernando Auquilla Vega, whose farms sit between 1,700 and 1,800 meters above sea level in the regions of Quilanga and Cariamanga. Warm days and dry mountain air make this area especially well suited for natural processing.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEach producer processes their coffee individually but follows a similar approach: fully ripe cherries are harvested, fermented for about 48 hours, and dried whole in marquesinas for 25–30 days, depending on the weather.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eInés Jiménez, a 75-year-old producer, has spent more than 45 years growing coffee. After decades producing washed lots, she shifted to natural processing in 2025, taking advantage of the region’s dry climate and adapting her farm to a method she can manage largely on her own. And in nearby Cariamanga, Luis Jima Pardo and Fernando Auquilla Vega have also begun refining their approach. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Coffee Quest has been working in this region since 2020, and 2026 marks the second edition of this natural lot. We are thrilled to showcase a coffee that exemplifies producers experimenting, improving, and pushing forward year after year.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1768\/8259\/files\/Loja-Naty-3.jpg?v=1774896357\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"LoyalCoffee","offers":[{"title":"12oz","offer_id":47707862630658,"sku":null,"price":29.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"6oz","offer_id":47877769396482,"sku":null,"price":15.5,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"2lb","offer_id":47707862663426,"sku":null,"price":60.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"5lb","offer_id":47707862696194,"sku":null,"price":145.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1768\/8259\/files\/2026_RetailBag_82.png?v=1774896020","url":"https:\/\/loyalcoffee.co\/products\/coffee-82","provider":"Loyal Coffee","version":"1.0","type":"link"}