Episode 509: Costa Rica Finca Licho Natural Villa Sarchi

An old favourite returns, a big favourite returns, and after the great success of this coffee last year I'm super happy and excited to welcome a naturally processed lot of Villa Sarchi from Finca Licho back for 2018!

Licho is a coffee that I feel shows our development as a roaster over the years. First we bought this coffee in the Cup of Excellence program (a great way to meet a grower), then we bought it from an import broker; they helped us bring in this coffee because we are a small coffee buyer. Then we bought directly from them. Then, three years ago, I went out to the farm and did the deal on the farm with the brothers. I love the fact that 2 years ago I walked onto the farm after cupping a particular lot in the exporter's office, asked how much they wanted, and there was a short conference. They came back and told me, then we shook hands. Then we got back into the 4x4 and drove away. That year we agreed a European-exclusive deal with them for this coffee, and this year we continue the close work we have been doing with them.

Grown by the Aguilera brothers in the province of Naranjo, in the volcanic Northern Cordiles corridor of the Western Valley, this coffee is cultivated at an altitude of 1,500 metres above sea level. Most of their coffee is of the Villa Sarchi variety, native to the area and excellent in the cup. Villa Sarchi is a Bourbon mutation (similar to Caturra and Pacas) found originally in Naranjo, West Valley. It is a dwarf variety with short internodes and usually higher-yielding production. There is also a little Caturra (around 30%) in this lot.

The Aguileras are 12 brothers and sisters, all of whom are involved in coffee as inherited from their parents. The brothers work the mill and farms themselves with basically no hired labor, other than pickers during the harvest. With the help of the third generation, they work the mill and drying patios, prune the coffee fields, fertilize, etc, year-round. The Aguilera Bros understand quality at the farm and mill level, and this is why we are excited about working with them.

Coffee has been cultivated in Costa Rica since 1779. Currently, the regions producing the best quality are Tarrazu, West Valley, and Central Valley. Coffee production has been threatened the past decade due to a real-estate boom converting coffee-lands into prime development properties. San Jose, the capital, is right in the heart of Central Valley, where you will find private houses next to coffee farms. The value of these farms have now skyrocketed.

In the cup it's a strawberry yoghurt mashed up with mango. It's got a little funky edge of that creamy natural yoghurt, but the complex fruits dominate this natural and give you something different each sip.

Country: Costa Rica
Region: Western Valley
Province: Alajuela
Nearest city: Naranjo de Alajuela
Farm: Finca Licho
Producers: Aguilera Family
Farm Size: 28.00 Hectares
Coffee growing area: 9.10 Hectares
Altitude: 1,500 m.a.s.l.
Varietal: Villa Sarchí
Processing System: Natural

CUPPING NOTES
Strawberry, mango, yoghurt, funk.

Clean Cup: (1-8): 7
Sweetness: (1-8): 7
Acidity: (1-8): 6.5
Mouthfeel: (1-8): 6.5
Flavour: (1-8): 7.5
Aftertaste: (1-8): 6
Balance: (1-8): 6.5
Overall: (1-8): 7
Correction:(+36): +36

Total: (max 100): 90

Roasting Information
Medium - take it through first and then slow down to let it develop, do not let it run into second!

"Quick Look" Guide
Strawberry, mango, yoghurt, funk.