For the February subscription I have picked out three delicious coffees that I hope you will enjoy. The first coffee is a fruity and refreshing coffee from Karogoto in Kenya. The two other coffees are produced by my friends Marysabel Caballero and Moises Herrera in Honduras. Although these two are grown in the same area they taste very different because they are different cultivars. A Catuaí that is a Brazilian cultivar and the famous Geisha cultivar that was re-discovered in Panama and that has broken numerous price records for its outstanding quality.
Karogoto 1 + 4 bags filter
Flavour notes: Rose hips, hibiscus & blackcurrants
Producer: Several smallholder farmers
Harvest: December 2019
Origin: Nyeri, Kenya
Process: Washed
Cultivar: SL28, SL34, Batian & Ruiru 11
This coffee is produced by several hundred farmers, most of them growing the famous Kenyan SL28 and SL34 cultivars. While some have planted newer hybrids like Ruiru 11 and Batian you can clearly taste the clean and fruity flavours in this coffee that are so common for the SL cultivars. The coffee from Karogoto has a very distinct and intense fruity flavour with a refreshing acidity. Expect winey notes of rose hips, and blackcurrant.
Caballero Catuaí 2 + 5 bags filter
Flavour notes: Chocolate, dried fruits & figs
Producer: Marysabel Caballero & Moises Herrera
Harvest: February 2020
Origin: Chinacla, La Paz, Honduras
Process: Washed
Cultivar: Catuaí
Catuaí is a Brazilian cultivar that used to be the one of the most common cultivars planted in Honduras before leaf rust (fungus) started attacking the trees and farmers replaced their Catuaí with resistant hybrids. It is known for its sweet and chocolaty flavours and Caballero’s Catuaí is a great example of this style. The majority of their farms are still planted with Catuaí because like Moises would say “it is a sweet and uncomplicated coffee that I can drink a lot of cups of every day.”
Caballero Geisha 3 + 6 bags filter
Flavour notes: Sweet mandarin, jasmine & honey
Producer: Marysabel Caballero & Moises Herrera
Harvest: February 2020
Origin: Chinacla, La Paz, Honduras
Process: Washed
Cultivar: Geisha
The Geisha cultivar is famous for its floral and citric cup profile. This award winning coffee from the Caballeros is no exception. Unlike the Panamanian geishas which typically has a light bodied cup, this Honduran grown Geisha has a heavier mouthfeel, slight lower intensity of acidity ad a subtle herbal finish. Like last year Moises separated all pickings from his Geisha trees and I was fortunate to be able to select my favourite lots to bring back to Norway. I am always looking for sweetness and expressive aromas and flavours when I buy Geishas and although these coffees were a bit closed when I bought them, a bit of resting time has opened up the flavours. Expect expressive sweet mandarin flavours with a herbal twist.
Karogoto 1 + 4 bags espresso
Flavour notes: Rose hips, hibiscus & blackcurrants
Producer: Several smallholder farmers
Harvest: December 2019
Origin: Nyeri, Kenya
Process: Washed
Cultivar: SL28, SL34, Batian & Ruiru 11
Caballero Catuaí 2 + 5 bags espresso
Flavour notes: Chocolate, dried fruits & figs
Producer: Marysabel Caballero & Moises Herrera
Harvest: February 2020
Origin: Chinacla, La Paz, Honduras
Process: Washed
Cultivar: Catuaí
Caballero Geisha 3 + 6 bags espresso
Flavour notes: Sweet mandarin, jasmine & honey
Producer: Marysabel Caballero & Moises Herrera
Harvest: February 2020
Origin: Chinacla, La Paz, Honduras
Process: Washed
Cultivar: Geisha
Thanks for reading and as always, we hope you enjoy the coffees and learning from our monthly videos. If you need some brewing tips, visit our website.
I hope you will enjoy the coffees
Tim W