Volcan Azul Obatá is a new rarity from the Berlin roastery The Barn, and it’s definitely not a coffee that wants to fly under the radar. This Obatá from Costa Rica is bold, juicy, and thoroughly tropical. In the cup , mango and passion fruit hit you first , gradually giving way to a sweetness reminiscent of cherry jam, with dark chocolate emerging in the background. Thanks to controlled fermentation, the coffee also has a slightly alcoholic, funky character. If you like coffees that surprise you and taste a little different from classic washed lots, you’ll find what you’re looking for here.
The coffee comes from the Volcan Azul farm in the West Valley region at the foot of the Poás volcano, where it is grown by producer Alejo Castro Kahle. The Obatá variety beans grow at an elevation of 1, 600 meters, and the farm boasts five generations of coffee-growing experience. In addition to production, the family is also committed to protecting the surrounding natural environment and is gradually purchasing sections of the tropical forest to preserve them. Alejo also enjoys experimenting with new varieties and processing methods, which is truly evident in this coffee.
And it is precisely the processing that is one of the main highlights here. After harvesting, the whole coffee cherries are sealed in tanks, where warm anaerobic fermentation takes place for six days at a temperature of 23.7 °C. Throughout this process, Alejo carefully monitors the time, temperature, pH, and sugar content to keep the entire process as tightly controlled as possible. The cherries are then dried on a terrace for eight days and finally finished in mechanical dryers. The result is an intensely sweet, tropical, and slightly funky coffee that definitely demands your attention.
- Elevation: 1,600 m above sea level
- Farm: Volcan Azul
- Producer: Alejo Castro Kahle