Finca_Desamparado_costa_rica_map.webp

Costa Rica’s West Valley is synonymous with honey processing in coffee, and arguably the place where the method first found widespread global recognition. Developed in response to forward thinking national rules that aimed to minimise water use at wet mills, the process relies on keeping as much of the coffee fruit mucilage on the seed as possible. Lacking the altitude of the Tarrazú region, the West Valley micro mills embraced honey processing as a way to innovate, build flavour and explore new techniques in coffee farming.

This coffee from the small farm Desamparados shows how expressive yellow honey processing can be. The post harvest fermentation stays very light in touch. During pulping, around 15 per cent of the mucilage remains on the seed, and the coffee dries immediately on raised beds for a couple of weeks with regular turning to ensure even drying. This method retains sugars and leads to caramel focused flavours rather than the more fermentation driven characters associated with red or black honey styles.

Finca_Desamparados_flavour_chart.webp

When roasted this Milenio has a moreish, full and rounded toffee base. This supports crisp and zesty citrus fruit notes that pairs with a bright matching citrus acidity. Further flavours of milk chocolate, pineapple and dried fruit add to the dessert like feel of the coffee and sit perfectly on a biscuty mouthfeel. This makes for a moreish daily driver of a coffee that works across a range of filter and immersion types of coffee brewing.

Finca_Desamparados_illustration.webp

Owner Jhonnathan Camacho is a third generation coffee producer and splits his time between farming and practising as a doctor. He also works with the well known Genesis micro mill, trailblazers in honey processing since the early 2000s, who handle all processing for his farm. This allows him more time to focus on the farm itself. Over the past decade he has rebuilt and improved his plantings, introducing a range of Central American F1 hybrids. This microlot is Milenio, one of these new F1 hybrids, formed from a cross between a local Sarchimor and the Ethiopian landrace Rume Sudan.

You may also like