Bolivian Premium – Caranavi & Apolo Microlot – Cafe Kreyol

Description

Bolivian coffee has really struggled the last couple years and pretty much dried up in most importers minds.  Been a couple years easy since we have seen some nice lots. They had been hit with economic issues alongside bad coffee disease to make a whirlwind of issues for the coffee growers. Many had abandoned their trees and moved on to other crops or work. Finally it is starting to come back, lots of new plantings over the last couple years along with co-ops starting to spread more accommodating strains through their memberships. A nice lot from our buddy Joey at Cafe Kreyol, he went down to Bolivia and sourced this one personally.

Tasting Notes: A very nicely balanced cup of coffee. A little hint of acidity upfront providing some floral and soft fruit at the lighter roasts, balanced with a semi-sweet nutty chocolaty factor. Super light roasts risk a little grassy/herbal but it straightens out at a city+ (medium) and holds up as dark as you want to take it. The darker you go, the more body and edgy chocolate the cup will pick up, once you hit 2nd crack, expect some smoke and roasty tones to compliment the nutty/chocolaty factor.

Roasting Notes: Avoid super light roasts, shines from a city plus to full city roast but also tasty at the dark roast points. If shooting for a lighter roast point, good to drag the roast out a bit. Being a microlot it will roast a little two toned, just make sure the beans on the lighter spectrum get a little development past first crack.

This cooperative is comprised of all indigenous people, that are native to the land on the edge of the Andes mountains, and bordering the rainforest and jungle of the Amazon. The land next to their farms is government protected land, and the indigenous groups have decided to treat their land as if
it were protected as well. Most of which have already been certified Smithsonian Bird Friendly.

Cafe Kreyol was connected to these groups through FECAFEB, who is a female owned not for profit located in La Paz. FECAFEB has the goal of increasing the quality of Bolivian coffee overall, and connecting suppliers to buyers throughout the world. FECAFEB has organized and managed competitions in Bolivia, such as the Cup of Excellence. Cafe Kreyol had the honor of serving on the international jury for that event in 2016 and 2018.