Maribel Herrera from Prodigal Coffee is the coffee you want to have at home when you're craving something with a generous dose of freshness and fruity vibes. Right from the first cup, you'll be greeted by the bright taste of mandarin and orange juice, which transitions into juicy notes of tart cranberries and delicate roses. The aroma has floral and fruity notes that harmonize beautifully with a delicate sweetness—it's like when you put a handful of ripe fruit in your mouth and smell its light floral scent at the same time. This profile makes Maribel Herrera a great companion for both slower filtered preparation and espresso with a bright and lively acidity.
This coffee comes from the Cajamarca region of Peru, specifically from the village of San Antonio in the Huabal micro-region. The farm is run by Maribel Herrera Torres, who personally tends to her coffee trees on two hectares of land high in the mountains (about 1650–1700 m above sea level). At this altitude, the cherries ripen more slowly, which gives the beans time to develop complex flavors and create rich fruity tones in the cup. Maribel grows the Gesha and Caturra (or Catuaí) varieties, which are sought after by specialty coffee lovers for their quality and flavor nuances. Care is taken by hand – from the selection of alternately ripe cherries to their sorting during harvest – which is directly reflected in the purity and depth of flavors you will experience in the cup.
In terms of processing, this coffee iswashed, i.e., "clean processed," which means that after harvesting, the cherries are stripped of their pulp and mucilage (sticky coating) before the coffee beans dry. This gives the resulting cup a brighter flavor profile with clean and bright acidity and more pronounced aromatic notes of fruit and flowers, which are so highly praised by specialty coffee fans. This processing method helps bring out the best in the Gesha and Caturra varieties—their natural complexity, freshness, and delicate nuances, which can otherwise lose their clarity in coffee. Combine this with the care that Maribel and her family put into growing and processing the coffee, and the result is a coffee that is lively, full of character, and beautifully balanced.