our next single is something a little different! we sourced this coffee directly from emerging coffee producer, Elkin Guzman during a recent trip to origin. one of two coffees we’ll showcase from finca el mirador, this coffee is a delicious mix of red apple, plum & brown sugar flavours.
tastes like red apple, plum & brown sugar
origin el rosal, pitalito, huila, colombia
producer elkin guzman – finca el mirador
elevation 1680m above sea level
varietal caturra
Process melazas
Elkin Guzman is a young & innovative coffee producer, a leader in his community & has quickly become a standout among Colombian growers in general. he is highly intelligent & curious, using the latest technology & techniques to consistently improve quality in every area of the process.
at finca el mirador, they grow many different coffee varieties & use a range of different processing methods. Elkin believes in using technology to collect & track data during each stage of the process, including the optimum ripeness of the coffee cherry for harvesting using a brix meter. he prefers the harvest to happen at 23–25° brix & only in the morning hours when the plants aren’t as stressed.
this particular coffee is just one example of Elkin’s many experiments. the coffee was harvested at 24° brix, de-pulped the same day it’s picked & sorted using a zaranda. Elkin then puts the coffee through what he is calling an “anaerobic melazas” fermentation, melazas meaning ‘molasses’ in Spanish.
the de-pulped coffee is dry-fermented in open air for 18hrs. then put in covered tanks to ferment for 24–36 hours, with molasses added to provide “energy” or sugars for the yeasts & bacteria to break down. the result is this stunning mix of red apple, plum & brown sugar on the palate. stay tuned for more exceptional lots from one of the most promising & passionate producers we’ve had the pleasure of dealing with.
