This coffee, which the DAK roastery describes as one of the ones they’ve been coming back to most often this year, is now called Juice Box (formerly known as Honeymoon). It is a clean and very pleasant washed coffee, whose flavor is more reminiscent of Ethiopian coffees than typical Colombian varieties. In the cup, you can look forward to a bright and juicy blood orange flavor, complemented by the freshness of rhubarb, the warm sweetness of honey, and a subtle hint of lemon zest, creating a beautifully clean and bright flavor profile.
The coffee comes from the Las Perlitas producer group in Colombia’s Antioquia region, specifically from the Urrao area, which is one of the most exciting regions for growing specialty coffee. This particular lot is a blend of the Chiroso variety, a genetically identified Ethiopian heirloom variety grown in this region at an elevation of 2, 000 meters above sea level. It is precisely the cool temperatures here and the slow development of the coffee cherries that concentrate the aromatic compounds and build the profile that makes this coffee so intriguing.
The uniqueness of this washed-processed Colombian coffee is ensured by a process called “cochadas.” This is a method of gradual harvesting that reflects the practical reality of harvesting in small batches. Hand-picked cherries are hulled every 4 to 7 days and added to the coffee from previous days, gradually homogenizing the lots. Most of the fermentation takes place in water, which keeps the profile clean and free of the excessive “funky” character that other methods can introduce. On the last day of the cycle, all the coffee is washed together and then dried to the optimal moisture content.
- Producer: Las Perlitas Group
- Elevation: 2,000 m above sea level