#25 Costa Rica
Natural Reserve Hacienda Colima
Red Honey Obata
Chocolate, caramel, honey, strawberry, almond, lemon/tangerine.
This is the second of Alejo Castro farm situated in the Vallee Centrale region - the oldest region of coffee, nearby the Paccific coast.
On my last visit in 2020, we visited his farm located about 2 hours drive from Volcan Azul. its situated at the edge of Barvo Volcano in organic conditions.
The cup profile for this region is very Chocolaty - rich and bodied. A high yield rust resistent Brazil variety / which is a cross between Timor and Villa Sarchi.
Its really good for both Espresso and drip coffee - extreeeeem velvety.
Variety | 100 % Arabica Obata |
Processing | Red Honey process |
Land/Region | Costa Rica/Vallee Centrale |
Farmer | Alejo Castro |
Altitude | 1400-1500 masl |
Cupping Score | 88 |
Roast Master, Quality cupper & Barista | Søren Stiller Markussen |
Coffees from Latin America is usually very easy to handle. As they are grown at altitudes from 1400-1700m. The cellular structure is more uniform and makes it easier to calibrate when dailing in your espresso shot.
At this altitude the cellular structure is uniform. And very little adjustments have to be made. Some rare coffees from Costa Rica are grown at a higher altitude as 1900-2100 m. And as a general rule = higher altitude = coarser grind setting / as the cellular structure is more dense. In this case I would also recommend a shorter extraction time 19-21 sec. And no rules without exceptions / Anaerobe / Cabonated coffees with same principle.
They coffees can be extracted from 19 sec to 31 sec. and still tasting harmonious with a delicate balance. Your highlight here should be sweetness and medium to low acidity. Tactile balance has to be medium to low weight. Costa Rican coffees are usually light, smooth with a delicate structure.
Dose | 21 g dobb shot |
Extraction | 26-29 sek |
Target mass in weight/liguid | 38 g. |
Extraction rate | 21/38= 0,52% |
The dose is calculated using a 20g VST porta filter.
Min dose is 19g/ and Max dose 21 g. pr dobb espresso.
This coffee is ideal to brew on Siphon, Chemex, Hario, Stagg fellow and December dripper Brew/ratio mass depends on how you pour the water, the weight of your coffee and the length of your brew. I like to recommend that you try to use different pouring techniques. So you will find out what will suit you and the coffee you have in your hands.
Step 1
Prefinfusion = Using water to wet the coffee, so the particle can absorb water, giving access to flavour and aromas. As a rule when you use less coffee, less water is used to preinfusion. "just enough to cover the coffee in the filter".
Step 2
Blooming = this is where the coffee particles is expanding, as any cellular products, giving access to transform the coffee attributes in to flavours and aromas. As a genius = less coffee/shorter blooming time. More Coffee/longer blooming time = that make sense right? Ie. 33 g of coffee = 30 sec blooming time. 60 g of coffee = 50-60 sec blooming time.
Step 3
Building up your coffee in the filter = you coffee brewing times length and letting you coffee steep in the filter. Coffee needs to be handled firm and homogenises.
Ie. Dont let your coffee set/sit or "dry out in the filter" when you pour the water in your coffee filter. Vise versa, you have to be careful, that you don't pour too much water, so you create a "swimming pool" on top of the coffee in the filter. The coffee should have a smooth "run through" contact time with water. You can find inspiration on brew guides