de Specialitate Corretto, Columbia Quindio Santa Monica Blackberry Mint, Co-fermentată, 100% Arabica, 88,25 puncte SCA

Specialty coffee | Country of origin: Colombia

Colombia Quindio 88.25 SCA points

Region: Quindio

Farm:  Santa Monica

Farmer: Jairo Arcila

Processing: Honey, 72-hour dry anaerobic fermentation with blackberries, mint, and wine yeast

Variety: Castillo

Tasting notes: blackberries, tropical fruit, caramel, lime

“Colombia Quindío Santa Mónica ‘blackberry mint’” is a specialty coffee produced by Jairo Arcila at Finca Santa Mónica in Armenia, Quindío, Colombia. This unique coffee is made using the Castillo variety and is processed through a 72-hour dry anaerobic fermentation with blackberries, mint, and wine yeast, followed by the honey processing method. The cherries are then dried on raised beds to achieve an optimal moisture content. This meticulous process gives the coffee a distinctive flavor profile characterized by intense sweetness, notes of tropical fruit, caramel, and lime.

The coffee is grown at elevations between 1,450 and 1,500 meters above sea level, benefiting from the region’s fertile volcanic ash soils. This altitude contributes to the coffee’s complex and vibrant flavor characteristics.

This specialty coffee has been well received by coffee enthusiasts for its unique flavor profile and the innovative processing methods used by Jairo Arcila.

This coffee was grown by Jairo Arcila at the Santa Monica farm. It underwent a 72-hour dry anaerobic fermentation period with the pulp on the bean. During this fermentation stage, blackberries, mint, and wine yeast were added. The beans were then dried on raised beds until they reached the ideal moisture content.

This microlot is 100% Castillo. This variety was developed by Federación Nacional de Cafeteros. It is more productive than Caturra and resistant to coffee leaf rust.

Jairo Arcila is a third-generation coffee grower from Quindío, Colombia. He is married to Luz Helena Salazar, and they have two children together, Carlos and Felipe Arcila, who are the co-founders of Cofinet, our export partner for this coffee. Jairo’s first job was at Colombia’s second-largest exporter, where he worked as a factory manager for over 40 years until his retirement in 2019.

Jairo bought his first coffee farm, Finca La Esmeralda, in 1987, where he planted his first Caturra lot. He was fortunate to earn money producing coffee on his farm in addition to his full-time job. Using his savings, Jairo was gradually able to buy five additional farms. After Esmeralda came Villarazo, Mazatlan, Santa Monica, Maracay, and then Buenos Aires. Now, during harvest season, Jairo can provide jobs to local residents, generating an economic impact in the community.

He gained valuable insight and expertise from his sons in selecting, sorting, and processing his coffee. This insight empowered Jairo and gave him the tools to present fantastic coffees with remarkable profiles from the region.

SCA Score: Quality Certification in the Coffee Industry

The excellent score of 89 earned by this specialty coffee from Ethiopia confirms the skill and dedication of the farmers and processors involved in its production. This score reflects every carefully managed aspect of the production process, from cultivating and rigorously selecting the coffee cherries to innovative processing methods such as carbonic maceration. Balanced flavors, gentle acidity, and a delightful aftertaste are just a few of the elements that make for an extraordinary experience for those who taste this coffee. With such a high score, this coffee is not only an elite product in the specialty coffee industry but also an authentic representation of the richness and diversity of Ethiopia’s coffee landscape. It is a source of pride for producers in the region and a symbol of excellence in a continually evolving industry.