Here is another stunning example of what coffee can taste like when it is carefully grown and selectively harvested with attentive & bold processing. Volcan Azul do this as well, if not better than, any other farm or estate we buy from. The only bad thing to say about it is we only have 50kg of it to sell!
Farmer: Alejo Castro
Farm Volcan Azul
Area: Alajuela, Costa Rica.
Established: 1850, 5th-generation farm.
Hectares: 55
Altitude: 1540-1720 Meters above sea level
Varietals: Villa Sarchi
Process: Warm Anaerobic Natural
Each year we buy multiple different lots from Volcan Azul. That line up usually includes a Villa Sarchi Natural. This year, as well as the Natural, we managed to get a small lot of this Anaerobic processed Villa Sarchi varietal. The Anaerobic process adds a complexity and depth to the standard natural lot.
Volcan Azul is a 5th-generation farm, producing many different single varietals and processes. The long game is the aim of quality, which we especially like at James Gourmet. The whole process is controlled by the farm and the operation is relatively small. These are all things that work for us. Coffee on a human scale with a history.
In a cupping bowl:
Aromatics: Rich & Chocolatey
Body: Medium- creamy on cooling
Acidity: Soft fruit sugars
On opening, this is more chocolatey than chocolate! Rich with cocoa and brown & white fruit sugars. This is not overly sweet, in the same way as a good bar of dark chocolate, to the point you could feel it is healthy (which, of course, it is!).
The Anaerobic process makes this (positively) unique and brings a bold richness to this light roast.
On cooling, that richness develops into roasted fig, dark cocoa and brown sugars, which gives it a lingering finish.
Espresso
This wasn’t easy to get right…but when we did it was stunning.
9oz Milk Based: Creamy milk makes this like drinking a chocolate brownie. Cosy & chocolatey.
6oz Milk Based: Indulgent dark chocolate, borderline savoury. A cuddle in a cup. Could be amazing with a few salt flakes?!
Espresso: White juicy front-end sweetness, big body & lingering cocoa.
Recipe:
Milk-based drinks: 18g into 35-37g Liquid espresso. 28-34 seconds.
Espresso: 18g into 45-50g Espresso. 35+ seconds.
