Bolivia Copacabana 2012

This coffee was produced by various smallholder farmers from the small town of Copacabana, which lies about 180km from La Paz in the heart of the Caranavi coffee producing region. This is a lush and fertile region, whose steep slopes and valleys provide excellent conditions for growing specialty coffee, as well as supporting a diverse range of native flora and fauna.

The small farms that produced this lot average around 5 hectares each, and range over an altitude of 1,300 to 1,600 metres - benefiting from an average annual temperature of between 15 and 26°C. They are planted out with Caturra, as well as red and yellow Catuai varietals, grown in the shade of native trees. These traditional farms use no chemicals or pesticides and are certified organic.

The main harvest runs from May to September, peaking in June and July. The cherries are hand-picked only when fully ripe, then fully washed either on the farms themselves or at the Buena Vista wet mill in Caranavi.

In the cup, this is yellow. Now I know yellow is a strange description, but think yellow, think peaches and oranges (not strictly yellow), mangos and star fruit. Sunshine in a cup may be one description too far, but you get the idea. A delicious brewed coffee.

Coffee: Copacabana ORGANIC
Farm: Various small producers
Varietal(s): Caturra, Red and Yellow Catuai
Processing: Full washed and sun dried on patios or in guardiola dryers
Altitude: 1,300 to 1,600 metres above sea level
Owner: Various small producers
Town: Copacabana
Region: Caranavi
Country: Bolivia

Yellow, peaches, oranges, mango, star fruit, sunshine(?)

Sweetness: 6/8

Acidity: 8/8

Total Score: 90/100

Clean Cup: (1-8) :

7

Sweetness: (1-8) :

6

Acidity: (1-8) :

8

Mouthfeel: (1-8) :

6

Flavour: (1-8) :

8

Aftertaste: (1-8) :

6

Balance: (1-8) :

6

Overall: (1-8) :

7

Correction:(+36):

+36

Total:(max 100):

90

Roasting Information:

No need for oils here, a medium/medium dark roast, don't let the temptation take over to take it dark otherwise you lose the complexity.

"Quick Look" Guide:

Yellow, peaches, oranges, mango, star fruit, sunshine ?

Good filter?:

Yes

Good espresso?:

Yes

A very flexible coffee and great if you're working on getting a consistant brew

Posted by Ben White on 23rd Apr 2012

My first coffe on my subscription. I had a couple of cups brewed with my V60 (2 cup) on Saturday and made enough for 2 people. The coffee was lovely and light and had a wholesome mouthfeel and could certainly taste the sunshine!

On Sunday I changed the grind and made it a little finer which was perhaps a little too fine with a little bitterness coming through, though it did benefit from tasting stronger with lots of orange (not the pathetic things we normally get in the super market, but big, rich, sweet juicy ones that you only seem to get on holiday).

Today I used a more coarse grind but in a single helping brewed for precisely 2.15secs and there was chocolate! Thick dark 80% Green & Blacks Gold dark chocolate. Bitter? No not at all. It was thick with mouth feel and even brought forth an exclamation of surprise at such a strong and easily identifiable flavour. Sadly as the temperature dropped, so did the chocolate, but I still enjoyed it. My girlfriend offered me a mint some 10-15 minutes later as we were driving in the car but I said (with all honesty) "no, I'm still enjoying my coffee".

I might not be brewing consistently, but this coffee really doesn't seem to mind and actually offers you a whole pile of other aspects of itself, non of which were bad!