Colombia - Armenia, Quindio - Carbonic Maceration + Mandarin Co-Ferment

Country: Colombia
Region: Armenia, Quindio
Varietal: Caturra
Farm: Santa Mónica
Process: Carbonic Maceration + Mandarin
Altitude: 1,550 - 2,000 MASL
Cupping Notes: Mandarin Orange & Honey

Description: Let us start by saying this is one of the most clear and easy to understand flavor profiles we’ve cupped in a long time, and maybe ever. The notes of mandarin orange dominate this cup in such a pleasant fashion. To achieve this, the lot was exposed to aerobic fermentation for 24 hours. Later, coffee was placed inside Grainpro bags for 50 hours maintaining a temperature below 22C and adding CO2. Later, gently washed and on raised beds mixed with de-hydrated mandarin skin below 35C until ideal moisture content was achieved. 

This microlot is 100% Caturra. This variety originated in Minas Gerais, Brazil. It is a natural mutation of Red Bourbon. Caturra produces more coffee and is more resistant to plant diseases than Bourbon. 

Jairo Arcila is a third-generation coffee grower from Quindío, Colombia. He is married to Luz Helena Salazar and they have two children together, Carlos and Felipe Arcila, who are the co-founders of Cofinet, our export partner for this coffee. Jairo’s first job was at Colombia’s second largest exporter, working as their Mill Manager for over 40 years until his retirement in 2019. 

Jairo bought his first coffee farm, Finca La Esmeralda, in 1987 and this is where he planted his first Caturra lot. He was fortunate enough to earn money by producing coffee on his farm in addition to working full time. Using his savings, Jairo slowly managed to purchase five additional farms. After Esmeralda came Villarazo, Mazatlan, Santa Mónica, Maracay, and then Buenos Aires. Now, during the harvest period, Jairo can provide jobs to the locals generating an economic impact in the community. 

He received great insight and expertise from his sons’ in the picking, sorting, and processing of his coffees. This insight has empowered Jairo and given him the tools needed to showcase fantastic coffees with amazing profiles from the region.

On the cupping table this one is a stunner. The notes are so clearly of Mandarin with the sweetness of Honey. It’s is a surprising cup, enjoy and have fun with this one.