This Costa Rica Šumava Black Cherry from the Czech roastery Doubleshot has taken on a slightly bolder flavor profile for the holidays. The flavor profile blends red wine, rum pralines, cacao nibs, and wild berries, resulting in a sweet, juicy, and slightly funky cup. The pronounced fruitiness is complemented by a fresh citrus acidity that lightens the overall profile and gives it a livelier character. If you’re expecting a smooth, classic chocolate flavor, what awaits you here is more of a festive ride.
The coffee comes from the Czech-Costa Rican farm Finca Šumava de Lourdes in the Lourdes de Naranjo region. The farm is run by producer Francisco Mena, with whom Doubleshot has been collaborating since 2015. Šumava de Lourdes is a model farm focused not only on quality but also on modern agronomy and more environmentally friendly farming practices. For example, wastewater from processing is reused here, and organic material is returned to the coffee trees as fertilizer. Francisco grows dozens of varieties here, and in 2016 he won first place in the Cup of Excellence with his Geisha. This Christmas edition, however, is based on the Caturra variety.
After harvest, the cherries are first submerged in water to remove lower-quality fruits with lower density. They then rest for 4 days in the shade in plastic crates, followed by 4 days of drying on African beds and another 15 days in airtight bags. Finally, the coffee is spread out again on African drying beds and dried to a final moisture content of 11%. It is precisely this multi-stage process, which Francisco calls “Black Cherry,” that helps create intense sweetness, fruitiness, and a slightly funky character, which is particularly noticeable in the filtered version.
- Producer: Francisco Mena
- Farm: Finca Šumava de Lourdes
- Elevation: 1,670–1,750 m above sea level
- Harvest: January–March