Description

Farm Notes

This blend of coffee from Inzá is made up from the producers of neighboring towns, or “veredas” as they’re called in Colombia. Hence the name, “Veredas Vecinas”, or “neighboring villages”. The province of Inzá is located in Southwestern Colombia within the greater Department of Cauca. As you make the drive from La Plata to Inzá, you follow the Rio Páez, and an eventual crossing over a suspension bridge lands you on the road to the villages where we buy coffee. Like much of Colombia, Cauca is home to very high altitude farms, many above the 2000 meter mark. The coffee from this lot harvested from an altitude range of about 1500 to 2000 meters. The way we make up these regional blends is by cupping several samples from the individual farms, separating out those that meet a certain cup criteria, and then blending them together. It’s a benefit to us (and not to mention the cup) having this level of quality control with our Colombian blends. This is a wet-processed coffee, most farmers using old style hand-cranked pulpers, fermenting and washing in the same tank (the first pic is of a dual-use tank), and then drying out on raised, covered beds. Most farms have a healthy amount of Caturra planted, as well as some Timor hybrids (like Variedad Colombia and Tabi) as a way to protect against coffee leaf rust (“La Roya”).

Cupping Notes

The dry fragrance has a nice brown sugar sweetness all the way up to Full City (and probably beyond), that with an almond accent, gives off impressions of sweet, baked goods. The wet crust has raw sugar sweet smells, and a subtle raisin/dried fruit hint at City+ roast. City+ roasts show persistent sweetness in the brewed coffee. The cooling cup constructs a framework of molasses sugars marked by top notes of dried apple, walnut, and an aromatic almond note. Full City sees an increase in dark chocolate tones as you might expect along with some dark fruited undertones. I found body to be lacking and on the thin side at City, whereas City+ and Full City roasts have a pleasing, rounded mouthfeel. For those looking for a Colombian espresso option, expect syrupy chocolate and a surprising berry bright spot, along with viscous mouthfeel and bittersweetness that endures.