Description
This lot comes from the Rabinal Coop in Chichupak. The community is only 100 kilometers from the region’s capital but it is not easy to reach, as it sits at the top of one of the highest peaks in the department of Baja Verapaz. You must pass through several villages, traveling on dirt roads, but once there, you are immersed in a different and magical world.
Chichupak members are very close to each other – most of them know each other for their entire lives. Faustín Chen is the leader, and together with Mario Sic, president of the association, works very hard to increase the quality of the production and as a consequence achieve better incomes. The community lives from their agriculture products; there are many small subsistence farms in the region. Coffee is one of their most important cash crops and their connection with the outside world.
The coffee production in the community is very traditional, but conducted with great care. Once the coffee is picked they take their coffee cherry to the coop’s mill where every member can access to depulpers, fermentation tanks, wash channels, African beds driers, and patios.
Testing Notes: Clean and very organized cup, medium-bodied. Clear citrus notes (lemon/tangerine-orange) with blackberry-like fruit accents and a hint of grape/white raspberry; the finish is reminiscent of black tea (tea-like), elegant and not at all aggressive. The base is chocolatey/malty with hints of caramel/nut, rounding out the sweetness without losing transparency. A balanced profile that works both to show off brightness in light and for a stronger cup in the mid-range.
Roasting Notes: Easy and even roasting (slightly two-toned, medium chaff). Perfect from light to dark. In light, the sweet and citric acidity is maximized with a winy/citrus sensation and a malty/nutty-caramel aftertaste; if you go light, it becomes smoother and creamier in medium, with chocolate upfront and somewhat less fruity sparkle—excellent as a daily drinker. It’s a candidate for dark: it gains body and lowers acidity, blending the malty/roasty tones well, although it retains a bit of acidity.
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