Description
Fresh new crop! A lovely natural processed lot from Veracruz. This Mexico Altura Veracruz comes from APG Coffee, a fourth-generation family operation based in Coatepec, Veracruz. The story goes back to 1920, when Antonio Pérez-Redondo Galvan (hence the initials APG) joined Arbuckle Coffee as an exporting agent, stamping his initials on the finest lots heading to New Orleans and Hamburg. Today the operation is run by Ernesto Perez and his sister Givette, who have been pushing lot separation and full traceability by farm, variety and process.
APG also runs the first ecological mill in Coatepec, and their dry mill was selected to prepare the winning lots of the 2022 Cup of Excellence Mexico. This lot is grown between 900 and 1200 masl on clay mineral soils in the Veracruz coffee belt, by partner farms that receive technical assistance from APG. The varieties are a classic regional blend: Bourbon, Catimor, Caturra and Typica. Harvest runs October through March. Cherries arrive at the APG wet-mill, where they are floated and sorted to remove underripe or damaged fruit, then dried on raised beds for 15 to 20 days, rested in GrainPro cocoons and milled at the same APG dry mill, so the coffee never leaves the family’s hands from farm to port.
Roasting Notes: Very versatile across the whole roast range, from light to dark, but the sweet spot lives between medium and medium-dark. Lighter roasts (just past first crack with a bit of development) bring out the tropical, fruity side of the natural: cherry, strawberry and a soft floral lift, with the chocolate already starting to round things out. chocolate, cacao, toasted pistachio and a round body, with the tropical fruit sitting underneath. Pushing into medium-dark brings more cocoa, toasted nut and that sweet edge typical of Mexican naturals, where the chocolate really starts to take over and tame the fruit. There’s still a chance of a caramel spin before 2nd crack. Naturals like this one tend to roast a little two-toned, that’s normal, don’t panic. Medium chaff.
Tasting Notes: A fruity coffee leaning more on the chocolatey side a tropical cup that gets smoothed out by the cocoa, really a blend of the two worlds. Light roast: cherry, strawberry, tropical fruit and floral notes, balanced by a soft chocolate backbone, with a gentle low acidity. Medium roast: cacao nibs, pistachio, semisweet chocolate, round body and sweet finish, with the tropical fruit playing a supporting role. Medium-dark roast: deeper chocolate, toasted nuts, the fruit pulls back and the cocoa leads, holding the sweet edge of the natural without falling into smoky territory. Low acidity overall, medium to medium-full body.
Lee –
One of my favorite coffee now
aturyev2 (verified owner) –
Made two batches. One was medium and another – medium dark. It was disappointing. Pretty crappy bean even for this price.