About La Esperanza

Sweetness flows from river walls.

La Esperanza sits at 1,960 metres above sea level in the steep valley of Rio La China, Tolima, where William Buitrago and Aminta Mahocha Franco have farmed for more than 30 years. Roasted for filter by Market Lane, who have been buying this coffee since 2019, it expresses the clarity and precision you'd expect from a high-altitude washed Colombian — sweet red grape and fresh melon up front, with a gentle honey-like sweetness that carries through to a clean, refined finish. Adding a further charm to the farm, William tends more than 30 beehives at La Esperanza, where the coffee blossoms feed the bees and the bees in turn pollinate the coffee flowers.

Roasted for: Filter
Origin: Tolima, Colombia
Varieties: Caturra • Colombia
Process: Washed
Altitude: 1960 masl
Flavour: Berries • Caramel
Dispatch & Shipping

Dispatch

  • We aim to dispatch all orders within 24 hours.
  • If we anticipate a delay, we’ll notify you in advance.
  • If your order is delayed beyond the estimated times shown on the product page, we’ll upgrade it to express shipping for free.
  • We work with a wide range of independent roasters, which can occasionally cause slight delays.
  • Our priority is to keep you informed and ensure your order arrives on time.

Shipping Times

  • Metro Areas: Estimated delivery within 1–3 business days after dispatch.
  • Regional Areas: Estimated delivery within 3–7 business days after dispatch.

Delivery times are calculated from the date of dispatch and are quoted in business days. These timeframes are estimates provided by our courier partners; postal delays beyond our control may occur once your goods have been dispatched.

Subscriptions

Subscriptions are fully controllable through the Subscription Portal.

How to access the portal:
Click the link in any of your subscription emails, or log in to your account on our website and navigate to Subscriptions

Make changes anytime:

  • Next order date
  • Delivery frequency (e.g. weekly, fortnightly, monthly)
  • Coffee selections (for eligible subscriptions)
  • Shipping address
  • Payment method

Skip, pause, or cancel:
Need a break? You can skip an orderpause your subscription, or cancel anytime - no hassle.

Billing reminders:
You’ll receive an email before each billing cycle, giving you time to make changes if needed.

Need help?
If you're stuck, reach out to us at support@altdrop.com.au - we're happy to help.

Coffee Freshness

How fresh is the coffee I will receive?

  • We aim to deliver coffee that is less than 14 days post-roast at the time it reaches your door.
  • We work closely with our roasters to ensure peak freshness with every order.

As a general guide:

  • 0–8 days post-roast:
    Coffee is fresh and drinkable, but may still be developing its full flavour.
  • 9–35 days post-roast:
    Peak drinking window – flavours are well-developed and balanced.
  • 35–56 days post-roast:
    Still tastes good, though flavour clarity may begin to fade.
  • 56+ days post-roast:
    Coffee may start to taste stale or flat – we recommend using it sooner.
Ethical Sourcing

Is your coffee ethically sourced?

  • Yes - we only work with roasters who source their coffee ethically.

What does ethical sourcing mean to us?

  • Fair pay for farmers:
    Ensuring producers receive a living income and are paid above market rates.
  • Transparent supply chains:
    Sourcing coffee through traceable, direct relationships wherever possible.
  • Respect for communities:
    Backing partners who invest in the wellbeing of farming communities, including education, healthcare, and infrastructure.

We regularly review our roasters to ensure their values and practices align with our commitment to sustainability and fairness.

About Market Lane Coffee

Transparency, Sustainability, Origin Clarity

Market Lane Coffee is a Melbourne specialty coffee roaster guided by the belief that great coffee should be good for everyone it touches. They prioritise seasonal buying and full traceability, build long-term relationships with producers, and pay for quality to support sustainable livelihoods.

Their roasting is thoughtful and restrained to honour origin character, and their approach centres on transparency, education, and respect - for growers, customers, and the wider coffee community. From sourcing to roasting to sharing knowledge, they aim to make each step considered, ethical, and responsible.

Located in Melbourne

Founded in 2009

Medium Sized Roaster