TRADITIONAL
Nº 125 Tanzania Gaia AA
Country: The Ngorongoro crater
Process: Washed
Grown / Region: Oldeani, Arusha
Altitude: 1620m - 1850m
Varietals: Bourbon, SL28
Producers: Edelweiss Oldeani Estate & Finagro Plantations
Tasting Notes: Blackcurrant, Assam Tea, Ganache
Roast Level: Medium / Dark 4/5
FARM NOTES:
The owners of Gaia have been producing coffee in this region for over 90 years! Their expertise has expanded beyond growing and harvesting fresh cherry, to building their own dry mill and preserving over one-third of their land as a wildlife corridor to protect migration routes. The coffee is shade-grown, which allows for the slow maturation of coffee cherries as well as a canopy of native trees in which the local ecosystem can thrive. The region has been subject to unpredictable rainfall this season, which has resulted in lower yields. However, the late harvest this caused has enabled the coffee to arrive here in the UK as fresh as possible.
The coffee at Gaia farm is shade-grown under a canopy of native trees which are home to the abundant wildlife found here. The landowners have also dedicated over one third of the farm a migration corridor to help preserve the natural ecosystem.
This diversity can in turn help produce exceptional coffees that undergo a slower maturation thanks to the shade. The result is aromatic with both red and black fruit sweetness. This coffee has been roasted to highlight these characteristics and accentuates a rich chocolate ganache flavour.
DISCOVERY
Nº 127 Honduras Ester Serrano Lot #2
Country: Honduras
Process: Washed
Grown / Region: San Luis Planes, Santa Barbara
Altitude: 1550m
Varietals: Caturra, Lempira & Parainema
Producers: Ester Serrano Marquez
Tasting Notes: Ginger Cake, Malt, Brown Sugar
Roast Level: Medium 3/5
FARM NOTES:
Whilst women have always been instrumental in both coffee production and farm administration, it is more commonly men who are the registered landowners and therefore the named producers. Ester Serrano, and many women like her, are beginning to subvert this tradition. Ester aquired her farm in 1999, but it wasn't until 2014 that she began the plantation of 4,000 Caturra and Lempira varietals. She quickly realised the potential of the farm to produce quality coffee for the speciality market. In 2019 Ester and her family undertook the planting of an additinoal 13,000 Parainema trees which has further elevated the quality of the coffee, and of course her yields! This particular varietal is resistant to coffee leaf rust disease, and the cherry fruits closer to the ground making hand harvesting more comfortable.
Having only acquired the land in 1999, Ester has been able to quickly produce exceptional speciality grade arabica! Honduran coffees are known for being very rounded with sweet aromatics, but Ester's coffee presents an elevated version - with subtle spiced notes and balanced acidity. This coffee is versatile and ideal for a range of brewing styles owing to its high natural sweetness.