Tasting Notes: Cranberry, Floral, Vanilla

Variety: Bourbon, Caturra

Processing: Washed

Origin: Huehuetenango, Guatemala

Producers: Octavio Herrera

Altitude: 1650m

Cup Score (Importer): 87.25

Los Cedros is a lot of Caturra and Boubron on Octavio Herrera's La Esperanza farm in Huehuetenango, Guatemala. Mr. Herrera - or "Otto" as he's known locally - is a giant of the specialty coffee profession in Huehue, with over 25 years of coffee experience and several successful farms under his direction. He's mostly retired these days, with the second and third generations of Herreras taking the helm to continue the tradition of exceptional coffee cultivation. They focus on lot separation and cultivating multiple varietals on each farm, which means they're usually offering several delicious lots each year with a wide range of flavors that score very highly. They also have covered and open patios for drying coffees, allowing them to tweak their processing to highlight the different qualities in different lots.

What makes this lot unique is definitely its balance of tart and floral notes - something we don't often see in coffees from Guatemala. There's a real cranberry-like flavor that gives the cup some bite and a bit of sweetness. We're also picking up on a floral quality that's evident in the aromatics of the cup - which smooths out the tartness and gives the brew a silky quality. We're tasting some vanilla, and maybe just a hint of tangerine on the back end of this cup. It makes for a sweet, complex brew - and we hope you enjoy it this week!