Guatemala Catarina Ramirez Espresso Roast
Guatemala Catarina Ramirez Espresso Roast
If you are looking for one of the sweetest espresso’s (outside of Brazil!), you might be getting close with this coffee. I love a sweeping generalisation, don’t you? When coffees are grown at this altitude (and also in Huehuetenango) they often become really bright and we love many of them for it. Yinta Witz, or Catarina Ramirez (as we name this coffee) has always been processed beautifully.
There is coffee that is decent and pleasing and there is coffee that makes you flipping joyous because it is that little bit better than you could have hoped for. Sound familiar? Guatemala Catarina Ramirez makes me happy! This is a micro-lot and one of the very best Guatemalan coffees that we have been able to get hold of over the last 3 crops.
Top Trumps
Farm; Yinta Witz
Size: 1 Hectare
Country: Guatemala
Owner: Catarina Ramirez
Nearest Town: Concepcion- Huista
Region: Huehuetenango
Altitude: 1560-1620 Meters above sea level.
Varietals: Caturra and Catuai
Shade Trees: Chalum and Gravilea
Process: Washed and sun-dried on the patio.
Roast: Espresso Roast.
Espresso:
Milk-based shots: Ratio (1;2) 17-18g into 34g in 25-30 seconds 94C-95C
9oz vessel, with whole milk. Ripe brown fruits, “good” chocolate, Sugar cane.
6oz vessel milk-based-whole milk. Dark chocolate, Rich brown fruit, boozy.
Espresso recipe: 17g into 45/50g of liquid in 28-35 seconds.
This was like an echo of the cupping bowl, which is rare. Ripe carob, date, sherried fruits, with a long finish. Soft sweet acidity that is super luxurious.
The rules are, there are no rules, if you are enjoying it!
Farm info
In 2013, Catarina took on Yinta Witz. Planting the first seedlings, some 2 years later. A first-generation farmer farming (what translates to be “The Front of The Mountain”) whilst her husband provides as a migrant labourer. Catarina is part of the (very new 2016) Sandero Cooperative that provides support to small producers. El Sandero is pro-gender equality and supportive of young producers.
Amongst the many reasons why this coffee is outstanding. I am of the mind that this slower fermentation due to temperature at altitude is a big part of the incredible sweetness in this lot. Attention to detail and small scale just makes this lot special. This is a farm to watch for the future.
Why not share your brews with us?
We have sourced this coffee via Primavera where we source our early-season Guatemalan coffees. They are award-winning in their model and though a young company, they are also coffee producers and processors. Catarina Ramirez is part of the premium “arcoíris” (rainbow) range, from Primavera Coffee. This range is the wild, fruity end of their offering, and coffees like this are worth their weight in loveliness.
