After 12 years of buying this coffee from the Gonzalez family farm, El Valle is still a firm favorite with customers and staff.
Elegantly balanced, bold, lush, and intense, El Valle is truly a remarkable coffee. Third generation producer Cristina Gonzalez' unwavering dedication to quality and care for her environment are reflected in this staff favorite. Chocolate-infused aromati...
read more cs, a heavy caramelly body and sugar-cane sweetness dominate the cup, but don't overpower the subtle nuance typical of the finest Antigua coffees - a clean spicy note that is a constant reminder of the active volcanoes that surround the region.
GROWING CONDITIONS:
Long considered the crown jewel among Guatemala’s renowned growing regions, Antigua enjoys an international reputation for producing coffees of the highest quality. Young volcanic soil, adequate rainfall,
and stable temperatures comprise three main conditions necessary to produce coffee of such remarkable taste. Of the several coffee farms in Antigua, Finca El Valle produces one of this celebrated region’s consistently best coffees. SUSTAINABILITY NOTES --
The Gonzalez family’s cycle of care and commitment to their coffee continues with the use of recycled water, composting and sun drying at their processing mill. Their estate is a model of sustainability and we are proud to be one of only two buyers worldwide of the entire Finca El Valle crop. Every year we meet with Cristina at her home to discuss crop productivity and quality, review her costs of production, and come to agreement on the final price we will pay for her crop for the coming year. The relationship we have with Cristina and her family is a true partnership, one that we’re proud to have established and built upon over the years.
PRODUCTION NOTES
A single estate, Finca El Valle is owned and operated by third-generation coffee farmer Cristina Gonzalez. Grown beneath a vast canopy of Grevalia trees and other tropical flora, the bourbon-variety coffee plants are well protected from the intense heat and evening chill so common at high altitudes. Finca El Valle is also a popular sanctuary for migrating birds that make their homes among the tree tops. Like many farms that incorporate shade trees, El Valle enjoys a balanced ecology and does not rely on pesticides, herbicides or fungicides.
CUP CHARACTERISTICS --
Perfectly balanced, bold, lush, and intense, El Valle is truly a remarkable coffee. Chocolate-infused aromatics, a heavy caramelly body and sugar-cane sweetness dominate the cup, but don’t overpower the subtle nuance typical of the finest Antigua coffees – a clean spicy note that is a constant reminder of the active volcanoes that surround the region. Guatemala Antigua Finca El Valle is always a stand out among our lineup of fine coffees for its elegant caramel, rum, and chocolate flavors.
PROCESSING NOTES --
In 1996, Cristina and her family completed construction of their own coffee mill, or beneficio. A woman of vision and innovation, Cristina chose to incorporate environmentally progressive systems into her mill design. By re-circulating water throughout the milling process, Cristina’s beneficio requires 80% less water than a traditional coffee mill. The small amount of water used in the milling process is collected at the end of the day and transported via tanker truck back to the farm to irrigate the coffee trees. The coffee pulp generated by the mill is also returned to the farm for composting. After milling, all the Finca El Valle coffee is sun-dried on patios, where the beans are carefully raked and turned throughout the day to insure uniform drying. The time honored but labor intensive tradition of sun drying contributes to an intensely flavored and balanced cup.
|
| Roast: |
Medium |
| Body: |
Heavy, Caramelly |
| Acidity: |
Bright |
| Notes: |
Chocolate, rum rasin, caramel |
| Farm: |
Finca El Valle |
| Farmer: |
Cristina Gonzalez |
| Elevation: |
1500 meters |
| Location: |
Antigua, Guatemala |
| Varietal: |
Bourbon |
| Process: |
Washed |
|
|
