We have a brand new bean on the CBD site, that we are really excited about. The Colombian Popayan coffee is a superb microlot bean grown in the lush mountain ranges of Popayan, the capital city of the state of Cauca. The region boasts many small coffee farms, of mostly less than 5 hectares, which produce an amazing array of coffees.
The two rainy seasons in the Popayan plateau produce a main crop and a mid crop, meaning fresh coffee is being produced all year round. The altitude of around 1600 metres above sea level, combined with the rich volcanic soil from neighbouring Purace volcano provide perfect conditions for typica and caturra varietals to grow under the lush shade of avocado and plaintain trees.
Our Colombian Popayan coffee beans are grown by farmer Isaias Cuetocue, a member of the Tierradentro Organic co-op, a group of about 90 Inza families who independently organised to achieve organic certification and find new markets for their beans. The Tierradentro Reserve was recently declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, because of its rich historical and cultural significance to the Inza people, who have been growing coffee in the area for generations.
After picking, the farmers in these areas wash and ferment the beans for around 10 hours, which produces a sweet and aromatic coffee. The beans are then sun dried on covered raised beds and taken to the community depot to be selected and cupped.
We are proud to stock Isaias beans, which are a standout among the microlots from the area. They are well balanced, with a bright, citrus-like acidity and brown sugar sweetness with a clean finish. Try them in a filter or plunger extraction, and you will be delighted by the expressions of lush fruit and pleasant aroma.
