This Colombia Las Perlitas Fruity from the Barcelona roaster Three Marks Coffee is exactly the espresso you want in the morning and then think about all day long. The flavor blends juicy pomegranates with red apples and the subtle bittersweetness of dark chocolate. It's a coffee with energy—fruity, sweet, and balanced. The acidity is more pronounced but natural and pleasant. If you like fruity espressos, this one will grab you from the first cup.
Behind this coffee are several small farmers from the Huila region of Colombia – Deiro Gasca, Lizardo Imbachi, Erik Bravo, and Delfin Carvajal. Their individual micro-lots would not be large enough for export on their own. However, thanks to the Las Perlitas project, these "little pearls" are combined into a sophisticated blend, which is created on the basis of very strict cupping and selection. All lots must meet a minimum score of 86+ and undergo careful moisture and water activity checks. The result is a blend that respects the quality of each farm but has a consistent and clear flavor.
The beans come from the Red Bourbon, Pink Bourbon, Chiroso, Caturra, and Tabi varieties. They are washed, but with very precise supervision of fermentation, which usually lasts 24 to 48 hours, exceptionally up to 72 hours. Producers work with variable temperatures, lot sizes, and controlled addition of microorganisms. Everything is then dried for 7–14 days, depending on the current conditions. This creates the final flavor – clean, fruity, sweet, but also complex. Las Perlitas is proof that even small lots from farmers who would otherwise not reach the specialty market can produce something exceptional. All it takes is to give care to even the smallest things.
- Producer/farmer: Deiro Gasca, Lizardo Imbachi, Erik Bravo, Delfin Carvajal
- Processing station: various small farms involved in the Las Perlitas project
- Altitude: 1,600–2,000 m above sea level