Welcome to another edition of Field Notes! In this month’s newsletter, we’re sharing news about Costa Rica Microlot arrivals, fresh Kenyan coffees, Labor Day closures, and some great coffees available now.
Costa Rica Microlots Are Here!
With the arrival season for Central America nearing its end, we are starting to see some of our most anticipated microlot offerings land. Microlots tend to arrive later, due to a combination of later picking – the highest-altitude areas of the farm ripen the slowest – and labor-intensive processing methods. But our patience is rewarded with some of the most exciting coffees of the season. This month saw the arrival of a shipment of microlots from our farms and mills in Costa Rica, including single-variety lots, unique processing methods, and selections from notable partner farms. Here are a few highlights:
Hacienda La Minita El Melico Semi-Washed Geisha
Cupping notes: Caramel, jasmine, citrus, complex and very sweet
We have been cultivating the famed Geisha variety in La Minita’s El Melico lot for quite some time, and this year’s crop may be the best yet. The Semi-Washed process is a new method developed by our team at Beneficio Rio Tarrazu in which the coffee is fermented in-cherry for 24 hours, depulped, fermented for 24 hours in fermentation tanks, then moved to raised beds. On the raised beds, the coffee is washed manually to remove approximately 50% of the mucilage before being sun-dried.
Hacienda Rio Negro Washed Obata Amarillo
Cupping notes: Tropical fruit, red cherry, white grape
This coffee made its debut last year as our first microlot from Hacienda Rio Negro and was an instant favorite. The Obata Amarillo variety is a perfect fit for the soil and climate conditions at Rio Negro, producing a cup with excellent quality and complexity.
Hacienda La Minita Hydro Washed Caturra-Catuai
Cupping notes: Green apple, lime zest, dark chocolate
This Caturra-Catuai lot from La Minita is another new offering for us this year. The coffee is fermented in-cherry for 48 hours, depulped, and fermented in tanks for 48 hours before being washed and sun-dried on raised beds. This extended fermentation develops high sweetness and a great fruit character while still retaining a clean washed profile.
These coffees and more are available now at CTI NJ. To see a full list of our available lots, including cup notes, packaging, and quantities, click the button below. Most of these lots are quite small and will move quickly, so reach out to your salesperson or via the contact form on our website if you’re interested!
Fresh Arrivals from Kenya
Each year, we travel to Kenya to connect with producers and select lots from the new crop. We are excited to share that this year’s selections have arrived and are available now!
With a mix of AA and AB lots and a wide range of flavor profiles, there’s something here for every roastery. Contact your salesperson for details!
Available Now
GUATEMALA, LA FLOR DEL CAFE ANTIGUA
This coffee comes from producers in the area around the historic city of Antigua and is prepared exclusively for La Minita to our specifications. We’ve been sourcing coffee from this region for many years, and it always impresses with its heavy body and lively acidity. If you favor a slightly more intense and juicy profile, we also have a Peaberry separation of this coffee available.
Availability: CTI NJ, The Green Room
Certifications: N/A
Cupping notes: Cocoa, caramel, citrus
GUATEMALA, SAN MARTIN JILOTEPEQUE ORGANIC
Grown by members of the organic-certified farmers’ association ASPROGUATE around the town of San Martín Jilotepeque, this is an excellent and versatile regional coffee. ASPROGUATE is dedicated to supporting gender equality, with 55% of its producer members being women. This coffee has a syrupy, sweet profile that is equally at home as a single-origin offering or as a component in blends.
Availability: Annex
Certifications: N/A
Cupping notes: Dried red fruit, brown sugar, cherry
LABOR DAY WAREHOUSE CLOSURES
La Minita’s office will be closed on Monday, September 7th for the Labor Day holiday. Our warehouse partners will also be closed, which may cause minor delays in shipping times.
That’s all for this month’s edition. Thanks for reading, and as always, if there’s anything we can do for you, reach out to your salesperson or fill out our contact form and we’ll get right back to you. See you next month!