We have continued to work with fantastic lots from Guatemala year on year, for over 10 years now. This year sees a slight change to our offering as we take a step away from El Durazno, a farm we had worked with for five years due to a variety of reasons. One of the main ones was for an added touch of continuity to our house blend in Fortis Green, which our larger Guatemalan lot typically makes up 25% of.
As a result we took a further step into a relationship we started last year with the exporter Los Volcanes through DRWakefield, and after the huge delicious success have brought back Santa Elisa from last year, but in a larger volume.
This lot is the same single variety H1 lot from Santa Elisa in the Acatenango region. It is a fantastic follow on from Roger Chilcon, and offers another complex and easy drinker to our Sweet & Balanced category. The cup profile is big and juicy, filled with red apple and notes of plum. These combine with sweet notes of butter and vanilla for a caramel like finish, with hints of pecan.
SANTA ELISA
Finca Santa Elisa Pachup is an estate located in the Acatenango region of Guatemala near the town of San Pedro Yepocapa. You can find it positioned west of the slopes of the massive Acatenango and Fuego Volcanoes. Fuego has earned its name by being one of the most active volcanoes in the world. It is a large estate encompassing 506 total hectares with 360 hectares planted with coffee. Its size has made the farm an important source of income for many people living in San Pedro Yepocapa. In 2017 despite its size Santa Elisa was struggling to produce with only 700 quintales of cherries harvested.
An extensive refurbishment and more innovative style of management has dramatically increased the farm’s production and it is now producing around 34,000 quintales of cherry. This lot was processed by Los Volcanes Coffee at their mill in Antigua called Beneficio La Esperanza. They have to be extra careful with the cherries due to the large amount of ash that often covers them from Vulcan de Fuego. If not washed well the ash can cause issues for the cherry depulpers. Finca Santa Elisa is actively experimenting with and producing many different coffee varieties. Some of the favourites for Los Volcanes have been their Sarchimor, H1, and Tekisic varieties.
H1 & PROCESSING
H1 is also known as Centroamericano, a cross between Sarchimor and Rume Sudan.
Carefully washed to remove the frequent coverings of ash that can cause issues with the pulping machine, it is processed at the Antiguan mill of Los Volcanes.
Once washed, pulped and cleaned, it is dried under the sun on patios.
LOS VOLCANES
Los Volcanes are an exporters who work with coffee producers in Brazil and Guatemala. They create quality by increasing productivity at farm level and establishing long term relationships.
This work consists in identifying the key elements unique to each coffee producing area to maximize the flavour and productivity potential.
The team then proceeds to implement programs that will help the producers have a better understanding of their growing conditions and processing methods. These programs are based in the interaction people have with plants and soil in order to build a balanced and healthy environment.
The results are then measured in the ability to replicate quality year after year.
(In partnership with DRWakefield)
