Costa Rica Tarrazu ASOPROAAA SOLD OUT!

Costa Rica Tarrazu ASOPROAAA

From InterAmerican Coffee, one of our importing partners, comes this new Tarrazu Costa Rican offering.  Here is some information on the ASOPROAAA organization:

ASOPROAAA is an association dedicated to agribusiness, especially coffee and cattle, its acronym stands for: “Asociación de Productores Agropecuarios de las Comunidades de Acosta y Aserrí”, which is translated to “Agricultural Producers Association of the Communities from Aserrí and Acosta”.  As of today, the Association involves the following:

- 1,142 families as active members/associates
- 200 families working in Agroforestry and
coffee
- 300 families involved in Cattle
- 807 families with housing benefit
- 30 families producing organic fertilizers

The Association has the ability to manage FCL and small lots of superior coffee from Tarrazú, Acosta and Aserrí. They function like a small “coop” supporting their associates and looking for new profiles every crop. They are constant and active participants for COE. Many past COE auction lots come from ASOPROAAA.

ASOPROAAA carries 10 diferent microlots from the highlands of Tarrazu, Aserri and Frailes. The microclimates of the region, allows each farm to bring a whole diferent experience among them.

Some of the names ASPROAAA uses, regarding their farms and regions are: Cerro Paldo, Los Manzanos, Los Higuitos, Altura, Valverde, Buena Vista, etc.

Six of their lots represented Costa Rica in the 2011 Cup Of Excellence.  We think their dedication to quality coffee is apparent in this particular bean.

Tasting Notes

A big, rich cup with flavors reminding us of hazelnuts and dark chocolate balanced with a ripe orange taste.

Agtron:

61-70

Roaster Notes:

We are pretty excited with the way this one has turned out.  One of our current experiments is with "charge weight" : the amount of green loaded into the roaster.  For this coffee, we charged a slightly lighter batch than normal.  All varietals behave differently in the roaster, but we find that the smaller batch size provides the best taste for this one.

  

Ethiopia Gemadro RFA SOLD OUT

Ethiopia Gemadro RFA:

Our newest offering from Ethiopia is from the Ethio Agri-CEFT conglomeration of agricultural production.  From their website:

Ethio Agri-CEFT's mission is to engage in a sustainable production, marketing and development of environmentally friendly farms of cereals, tea, coffee, legumes, cut flowers, horticultural products, herbs, spices and medicinal plants, and integrate agro-processed products.

Environmental and social responsible agriculture on a large scale, basically.  In addition to those company guidelines, this offering has also been certified by the Rainforest Alliance :

Since its founding in 1987, the Rainforest Alliance has pioneered a comprehensive transformation across the industries that most impact our environment -- farming, forestry and tourism -- and successfully engaged the support of consumers around the world to protect the forests and ecosystems that are essential to our future. This report incorporates numerous impact studies to demonstrate how the spread of sound land-use practices and the development of sustainable supply chains have begun to arrest the tide of destruction and lay the groundwork for a better future.

Gemadro itself is a highland Ethiopian coffee like Sidamo or Yirgacheffe.  Here is a link to Ethio Agri-CEFT's page with further details on this particular coffee. 

Tasting Notes:

This is a light, clean cup with sweet lemon and herb flavors reminding us of hops and basil in particular.

Agtron:

60-65

Roaster Notes:
  
Not a pretty bean, compared to some of more recent entries here, but still roasted evenly and provides a good cup.  Can't always judge a good coffee by how it looks green it seems.  Was happy with the taste outcome from the initial profile of standard heat/temp...  Agtron shows a slightly lighter roast and we're happy with how the roast suites the taste.  Currently experimenting with it as espresso.  Hope you enjoy!