MILES OF ROSES from Sprout Coffee Roasters is a deliciously delicate, floral coffee from Costa Rica that will delight lovers of unusual flavor combinations. In the cup, sweet notes of ripe apricots blend with the subtle aroma of rose water and chamomile tea. All of this is complemented by the deeper sweetness of molasses, which pleasantly rounds out the flavor. The result is a layered flavor with a delicate aromatic profile, in which fruity and floral notes naturally complement each other.
The beans come from the Monte Alto farm in the Tarrazú region of Costa Rica, where they are grown by the family-run producer Café Directo. The family has been growing coffee plants here for five generations. In 2010, they built their own micro-mill, which gave them greater control over processing and allowed them to begin developing their production of specialty coffees. Today, Café Directo operates two farms. While Casa de Piedra focuses primarily on the Red Catuaí variety, the high-altitude Monte Alto farm cultivates distinctive and characterful varieties, including Gesha, as well as Pacamara and Typica.
Café Directo is also committed to more sustainable farming practices. The producers have reduced pesticide use by 75%, reuse coffee pulp as natural fertilizer, and have planted more than a thousand shade trees that support local biodiversity. In addition, at their own micro-mill, they work with various processing methods, ranging from washed to natural to anaerobic. For this lot, they chose the Honey method. After the husk is removed, a portion of the pulp remains on the parchment, with which the coffee beans are then dried. It is precisely this processing method that serves as one way to develop the coffee’s natural flavor potential.
- Farm: Monte Alto
- Producer: Café Directo
- Elevation: 1,800–2,050 m above sea level
Recommended preparation:
- Pour-over: 17 g of coffee, 255 g of water (1:15 ratio), temperature 93 °C.
- Pouring: 50 g of water (0:00–0:15), another 100 g (0:30–0:55), and 105 g (1:00–1:30); after the second and third pours, gently stir in a circular motion.