The cup exhibits - silky and rich with a full round body and notes of caramel and pecan with a soft finish. Nice decaf.
Additional information:
Coffee: Condor Cerro Bravo Excelso
Farm: La Sierra
Varietal(s): Caturra
Processing: Washed
Owner: Juan Camilo Restrepo
City/Town: Fredonia
Region: Palomos
Country: Colombia
Certification: Swisswater Decaf
This special coffee is grown in the province of Palomos, near the town of Fredonia, a very fertile mountainous region in the South West part of Antioquia. The farm where it is grown, La Sierra, belongs to Juan Camilo Restrepo, a third generation coffee grower from this traditional coffee region.
The farm is 68 hectares in size, out of which 43 are planted in coffee, 5 are used for cattle, and the rest is a precious forest reserve. Most of the coffee is shade grown under a canopy of guamo and fruit trees. The farm faces Cerro Bravo, the most beautiful peak in the region.
Both Variedad Colombia and Caturra coffee, are planted from 1400 - 1600 meters. Juan follows a traditional philosophy to produce the finest coffee in harmony with the earth's natural resources. Natural spring water is derived from the forest reserve, home of beautiful native birds, and the most extensive collection of exotic flowers. The farm produces its own corn and vegetables. The corn is planted among some of the rows of coffee plants, to support the sustainability of the farm.
The plantation is mostly fertilized by compost, prepared with pulp, chicken feed and manure. The coffee is exposed to good amount of sunlight, even though most of it is shade grown. Thinking of future generations, and the difficulties on relying solely on coffee, Mr. Restrepo has strategically planted shade trees which may produce some of the finest wood in the future. He has planted around 75 wood trees per hectare. Some of these fine trees include nogales, oak and some native wood trees.
The farm employs seven permanent workers and during harvest periods a total of 150 pickers climb the steep slopes to harvest the ripe cherries. The workers are paid above the average wage. The yields of this farm surpass the national averages. This translates into additional income for the pickers who come every day from Palomos. Erosion control is another priority for this farm. This farm is truly an example of sustainable farming at its best.
The main harvest starts in October through January. A small fly-crop is harvested during the months of March and April. The coffee is depulped and fermented on the farm, using modern eco-friendly equipment to remove the muscilage form the cherries, minimizing the usage of water. After the parchment is washed it is carefully set on the patios for sun-drying. The parchment is carefully monitored and turned until it reaches an ideal moisture content of between 11% and 11.5%.
Cupping Notes:
Clean cup: 6
Sweetness: 6
Acidity: 6
Mouthfeel: 5
Flavor: 7
Aftertaste: 6
Balance: 6
Overall: 6
Correction: +36
Total (max 100) 84
Brewing Notes:
Filtered: Yes
Espresso: Yes
