We have a very small supply of this wonderful “honey” coffee from Costa Rica’s West Valley. Grower and micromiller Jaime Cardena is an aficionado of the honey process, better known in some countries as pulped natural. Honeyed coffees for those unfamiliar with term, are cherries that have their outer skin (pulp) removed, then are fully dried in the sun, on raised African beds, while still encased in their mucillage. The drying mucillage imparts a flavor that penetrates through the thick parchment skin that houses each bean. The resulting cup profile, which of course varies greatly, is generally syrupy and more mellow than washed coffees.
Jaime Cardena has taken Costa Rican honey coffees to a new level. His coffee took second place in the 2008 Cup of Excellence and he is always in the top group. His farm is very small, only 1 hectare (2.5 acres). But he has set up an impressive small micro-mill using a Gaviota 2500 pulping machine and processes coffee on behalf of a number of his neighbors in the West Valley. It can be calibrated to remove just the coffee’s skin or it can wear mucillage off depending on the miller’s intent. And, like all of the modern depulping machines, it uses very little water and has minimal environmental impact. He produces red and yellow honey coffees using the Villa Sarchi varietal, a hybrid of Bourbon developed in this West Valley, known of its sweetness.
Jaime’s Micro mill is called Sin Limites, meaning without limits.
Cup Characteristics: Floral, sweet but not high in acidity due to honey process. Very interesting, almost spicy on the palate. Structured, balanced, solid.
Grower: Jaime Cardena
Mill: San Limites Micro Mill
Region : West Valley
Micro region : Lourdes de Naranjo
Altitude : 4900-5600 feet
Varietal : Villa Sarchi
Production : 200 bags/year
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