Las Palmas

About the Coffee

Chalo Fernandez represents five generations of coffee farming in Southwest Huila, Colombia - his family has been working the same land for over 150 years. What started as traditional farming has evolved into a technical operation staffed by master cuppers, food engineers, and agronomists.

The Fernandez family brings serious expertise to every stage of production, combining deep knowledge passed down through generations with modern specialty coffee practices and innovation.

Their focus on both quality and the future of specialty coffee has made Las Palmas a model for what multigenerational coffee farming can achieve when tradition meets technical skill.

About Pilot

Andy Wilkin and Jessie Holmes started Pilot in 2009 as Te Aro Roasted in a converted car garage in Toronto's Leslieville, inspired by the cafes Andy knew from his hometown in Wellington, New Zealand. What began as a micro-roastery helping new cafe owners with equipment and training grew into a specialty coffee hub as Toronto's coffee scene emerged. By 2013, they rebranded to Pilot Coffee Roasters and now operate cafes across Toronto, Oakville, and Waterloo with wholesale partners coast to coast. Their direct trade approach focuses on long-term producer relationships built on quality, transparency, environmental responsibility, and fair wages - prioritizing partnership over transaction.

"I first visited Te Aro in 2012 - my friends on the east end of Toronto raved about the coffee, and it didn't disappoint. Later in my career, a trip to a Pilot cafe downtown had become a daily staple for me, and so it seems inevitable to include them in Stillwater's Coffee Club experience." 

- Dean, Director of Coffee