Colombian Premium Org. Tolima La Excelencia

Description

For many years Tolima has remained hidden in plain sight between other well-known coffee growing regions because armed conflict and coca leaf production isolated small coffee producers and exposed them to high rates of violence. As conflict has subsided in recent years, locally organized associations have taken the lead in creating market access for their coffee.

This traceable blend with a vibrant regional profile comes from an association called Asociación Multiactiva de Productores café Excelencia de Ataco Tolima (Café Excelencia), which has 84 producers with small farms in the municipalities of Ataco. Each producer has their own micro-mill where they carefully harvest cherries, depulp, ferment, wash and gently dry the parchment on raised beds. Their impeccable farm management and post-harvest practices culminate into a clean and consistent blend. But there are also just enough differences from farm to farm to create a rich complexity of flavors.

Tasting Notes: Great cup from light to dark! Smooth, sweet, rich and buttery textured. A very chocolaty cup with hints of floral acidity and a soft fruit tone. Overall, lower acidity and fuller bodied with some classic Colombian nutty tones in the aftertaste. A little spice in the cup creates wonderful depth of flavor. At lighter points you get some brighter and crisper tones, the hints of fruit with just a pinch of darker notes. Medium to dark roasts are where you get the more classic Colombian cup with a very sweet edge and more nutty/chocolate tones. 

Roasting Notes: Easy to roast, lower chaff with only slightly two toned roasting. We recommend pushing to at least a medium roast point start, it was our favorite roast point. Adjust lighter or darker dependent on personal taste. A little sheen on the surface is a good sign of a tasty roast.

The Exporter:
An export company called Mastercol provides crucial logistical support for things like warehousing and milling coffee for export to the international market, which provides better income for everyone to reinvest in their farms and strengthen their families’ livelihoods.