New 2018/19 crop! After losing the bid war last year on the Amistad coffee, we made sure not to make the same mistake this year! Always on our favorites list.
Hacienda la Amistad, located in Coto Brus, a canton in the province of Puntarenas, Costa Rica, is owned and operated by Roberto Montero, a third generation coffee farmer. Roberto’s grandfather first came to the area in the early 1900’s as part of a team surveying the border between Costa Rica and the newly formed country of Panama. Roberto’s grandfather later purchased over 10,000 hectares of land and began to cultivate coffee. Roberto’s family has returned more than 6,000 hectares of land to the government of Costa Rica for the preservation of La Amistad International Park, the largest natural reserve in Central America. Only 300 hectares of land are utilized for coffee cultivation while the remainder of the 4,000 hectare estate is preserved forest teeming with wildlife.
Roberto’s commitment to organic farming pairs harmoniously with his commitment to his community. During the coffee harvest, Roberto provides housing and free access to medical care for the seasonal pickers because most are indigenous people from Panama who come to La Amistad with their entire families. Roberto also takes pride in his ability to provide more than 100 full-time jobs to his neighbors from Las Mellizas, not only in coffee cultivation, but also in the dried fruit operation that he runs year round at La Amistad. Roberto hosts an annual employee celebration to recognize all their hard work and he also distributes school supplies to their children each year before school starts.
Tasting Notes:
This is one you Costa fans will not want to miss. Great smooth and clean coffee on the sweet and nutty side, a bit chocolaty as one pushes past a medium roast. Great balance with floral and soft fruit tones that push this cup well beyond average. Medium bodied and on the medium to low acidity side at most roasts. A cup everyone should love.
Roasting Notes:
A shame to roast super dark, will mute up sweetness and all the lighter tones but still be tasty. Avoid cinnamon and super light roasts, will not be balanced and taste pretty front loaded with acidity and floral. It shines in the city to full city range. If you like a hint of acidity, a nice city or city+ roast (lighter side of medium) will be perfect, if you like lower acidity and a little fuller bodied, shoot for right before 2nd crack. (strong medium)
