Hazel Nuts is exactly the kind of espresso that pairs suspiciously well with milk. This Honduran coffee from the Dutch roaster DAK Coffee Roasters is a sweet, round, and silky espresso with a distinct nutty character. The flavor profile opens with hazelnuts and cacao nibs, complemented by juicy blackberries that add a pleasant, fruity depth to the profile. Thanks to its fuller body and high sweetness, it works great on its own, but it also holds its own in a cappuccino or flat white, where its nutty-cacao notes really shine.
Behind this coffee are Marysabel Caballero and Moisés Herrera, long-time partners of DAK, who farm in the Marcala region of Honduras. This lot comes from the La Pedro farm, which they purchased together back in 1995. Catuaí coffee trees grow here at an elevation of approximately 1,600 to 1,620 meters above sea level. Marcala offers excellent conditions for growing coffee, but the processing can really put producers to the test, as the drying season is characterized by high humidity and frequent rain.
Hazel Nuts undergoes natural processing, a method that Moisés has gradually perfected on the farm over the years. Ripe cherries are harvested and spread whole on covered raised beds. Initially, they are laid out in a thin layer, which can be gradually thickened as drying progresses. Depending on the temperature, the entire process takes approximately 20 to 40 days, which requires careful monitoring in the local humid climate. Slow drying helps create a round, silky body and a sweet profile in which nutty, cocoa, and fruity notes naturally intertwine.
- Farm: La Pedro
- Elevation: 1,600 m above sea level