A surprisingly fickle bean that challenges the roaster!  When handled properly and with a delicate touch, fabulous nutty flavors emerge – with almond being predominant.  Hints of milk chocolate, citrus, caramel.  A balanced and bright cup. This is our House Coffee and we are very proud of it indeed. It is a great, not-demanding, first-cup-in-the-morning coffee.

A gorgeous bean that opens up like a fine wine in the cup. Layers of fruit come through: black currant and raspberries are clearest. Hints of chocolate and a bit of grapefruit. As the bean ages, the grapefruit moves to center stage. Some spice flavors, like nutmeg and cinnamon, emerge on the finish. Very sophisticated, bright and balanced. A personal favorite of the Roaster!

This is a wonderful example of a balanced, elegant cup of coffee.  The smells are familiar: coffee, flower-perfumy, citrus, with a touch of caramelized brown sugar.  The initial tastes are bright and crisp, like the first apples of Fall.  The dry mouthfeel doesn’t come across as acidic, but more high and bright, and it finishes slightly metallic. There are hints of dry nuttiness –a blend of almonds and cocoa powder with a slight malty-coffee-caramel thread. A new range of flavors emerges once it cools: complex layers of unusual fruit and spices.

The Santa Lucia Estate in Costa Rica took 16th place in the 2008 Cup of Excellence judging.  Farmers Ricardo Perez Barrantes and Rodriguez Villalobos have more than 30 years of coffee farming experience.