Cupping Notes: Concord grape, winey, tropical, mint
SCA Cupping Score: 87
Origin: Costa Rica
Region: Turrialba
Farm: Aquiares
Altitude: 1200 - 1400 MASL.
Harvest: October - January
Varietal: F1 Centroamericano
Processing Details:
Aquiares has identified the need to diversify its production to rely less on solely coffee. One very exciting new project is that of producing medicinal herbs that contain essential oils that have health, beauty and wellness applications. They started this project in 2021 with the commitment of it being the first all-women led project within their organization. They have now planted 2 hectares of herbs like Oregano, Eucalyptus and Juanilama. This last one, also known as Lippia Alba, has a fascinating lemon & mint aroma and medicinal antispasmodic properties. Their main clients buy essential oils for the natural pharmaceutical industry; but as they extract the oils, there is a residual liquid which is water-based, called Hydrosol.
Hydrsol maintains the organoleptic properties of the plant, and having this amazing resource, they decided to experiment and try to translate these flavour attributes to coffee. So, they turn hydrosol into a coffee-fermentation inoculate. Fully ripe cherries are brought to the mill, where floaters are separated. The heavy fruit is depulped and placed within fermentation tanks, where hydrolate from their essential oils extraction plant is incorporated and then the tank is sealed. They check temperature and pH twice a day, and once it reaches pH of 4.0 (after 1-2 days), the coffee is removed from the tanks, drained, washed, and sent to their solar dryers for a slow, 16-day drying process. All lots are then stored in GrainPro bags for three months for aromas to consolidate.