This coffee comes from the wonderful people at Hacienda Sonora in Costa Rica’s Central Valley, just down the mountain from the famous (and incredibly active) Paos Volcano. Hacienda Sonora takes their coffee quality really seriously, and have invested in wonderful wet-milling equipment and are pushing the boundaries when it comes to natural and honey processed coffees.
Hacienda Sonora is located in the Central Valley of Costa Rica. The farm’s area is approximately 100 hectares, which is composed of 45 hectares of highly shaded coffee, 35 hectares of wild forest reserve, and 20 hectares of sugar cane. The coffee grows in an environment surrounded by exotic trees and other vegetation, providing a great condition for quality, as well as improving the chemistry of the already naturally rich volcanic soil. Thanks to the farm’s diverse ecosystem, many different species of birds and animals seek refuge in the land.
Welcome to my Table, here in the corner of this cafe. Today we’re sipping a cup of Costa Rica Hacienda Sonora, from Blue Copper Roasters in Salt Lake City, Utah, courtesy of Craft Coffee. Feel free to pull up a chair.
THEDETAILS:
origin: Central Valley, Costa Rica
farm: Hacienda Sonoro
producer: Guardia Family
association: N/A
elevation: 1850 meters above sea level
cultivars: Red Catuai
process: natural
certifications: standard
CUPPINGNOTES:
The aroma of the Costa Rica Hacienda Sonora isn’t as bombastic as I figured it would be, considering it’s a natural processed coffee. No, instead it’s pretty delicate and nuanced with perfumed scents of soft stone fruits, cocoa, and flowers.
Taking my first few sips of the cup immediately post-brew, my palate is greeted by a light-bodied coffee with a smooth, buttery nut-toned milk chocolate texture and flavor. Cane sugar, hazelnut, toasted marshmallow… There are also some beautifully lush blueberry and strawberry flavors happening up front, complemented by sweet cherry.
As the cup cools off, I’m tasting a bit more of a vanilla-toned creme fraiche note, along with cane sugar, that counterbalances the chocolate flavor from up front. Actually, these flavors are really amplifying the fruits that are coming out in the back half of the cup: peach, juicy blood orange acidity, honey crisp apple, and a very unique sugary sweet flavor that only makes me think of Cap’n Crunch cereal which rounds out the finish.
Light body; buttery mouthfeel; citric acidity; clean finish.
FINALTHOUGHTS:
Blue Copper Roaters’s Costa Rica Hacienda Sonora is a wonderfully unique natural; one that showed no restraint on the palate, but was balanced enough so that it wasn’t overpowering. This one was delicious from first sip to last drop, with a stunning flavor profile and a delicately lush, sweetly brisk texture.
What were your thoughts of this one? Comments, questions, and suggestions are always welcome! Feel free to enter a comment below. Also remember to like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter!
Andrew is a husband, father, dog lover, craft beverage enthusiast, content creator, and niche market Internet celebrity. Formerly of A Table in the Corner of the Cafe and The Pulitzer Project and contributor to Barista Magazine and Mental Floss, he’s been writing on the Internet for years.