Citrus freshness, the sweetness of dried raisins, and an exotic hint of golden kiwi. That’s exactly the combination offered by the Costa Rica Hacienda Sonora from the Brno-based roastery Poppy Beans. In the cup, a juicy acidity reminiscent of gooseberries comes through first, gradually balanced by the sweetness of sultanas and subtler notes of yellow fruit. The overall character of the coffee is pleasantly fruity and light, like tea, with a clean and well-defined flavor profile. A great choice for those who expect freshness and a slightly unconventional fruitiness from their filter coffee.
The beans come from the Hacienda Sonora farm in Costa Rica’s Central Valley region, where coffee trees are grown at an elevation of around 1, 300 meters. The farm has been owned by the Guardia family for over 100 years. A major change came in 1999, when Alberto Guardia built his own processing station and gained greater control over production quality. Today, Diego is also involved in the farm’s management. The farm features 80 hectares of coffee trees, 20 hectares of protected forest, and more than 20 different varieties that the family has been experimenting with for many years.
This lot consists of the Victoria 14 variety, which was bred right here at Hacienda Sonora. The coffee underwent natural processing. The hand-harvested and sorted cherries are first dried for 9 days on African beds and concrete terraces. They then rest in storage for 3 days, followed by final drying in a mechanical dryer at a temperature of up to 35 °C. Once the moisture content reaches 10.5%, the coffee stabilizes in parchment for another 2 months. This carefully controlled process helps preserve the purity and consistency of the final cup.
- Farm: Hacienda Sonora
- Producer: the Guardia family
- Elevation: 1,300 m above sea level