Finca Cirri is taken care of by Leon Arrieta, his wife Maricel Lara and their two kids, Jose and Anthony. Located in the Alajuela Province in the West Valley, the family produces about 30 (69 Kilo) bags on their seven hectares and we purchased 14 that were set aside as micro-lot quality. The fertile, volcanic soil of this area is rich in minerals, which has further increased the quality of their crop. The four of them work on the farm dividing all the responsibilities between them. This property was passed down to Leon by his father, making Leon the fourth generation of the family to own and operate the land.
We cupped this coffee during our recent visit to Costa Rica and the bright, sweet, fruit forward cup really stood out prompting us to buy the whole lot, making this a Bold Bean exclusive. Semi-washed coffees tend to lack brightness in favor of fruited notes but Finca Cirri has a bright, clean acidity that complements the sweet fruit well.*
Welcome to my Table, here in the corner of this cafe. Today we’re sipping the Costa Rica Finca Cirri, from Bold Bean Coffee Roasters in Jacksonville, Florida. Feel free to pull up a chair.
THEDETAILS:
region: Naranjo, Alajuela, Costa Rica
farm: Finca Cirri
producer: Leon and Maricel Lara Arrieta
association: N/A
elevation: 1800 meters above sea level
cultivars: Catuai, Caturra
process: semi-washed, patio dried
certifications: standard
CUPPINGNOTES:
The aroma of the Costa Rica Finca Cirri is absolutely delightful. Soft, sweet, and perfumed with notes of citrus, berry, and floral aromatics.
Taking my first few sips of the cup immediately post-brew, my palate is graced by a delicate, light-bodied coffee that has a fantastic clarity, silky mouthfeel, and a crisp, clean finish. Not much in the way of sugars up front—touches of honey and strawberry jam; no, this coffee places its emphasis on fruits and florals.
Delicious flavors of peach, apricot, nectarine, lychee, blackberry, and sparkling white grape acidity team up with nuances of honeysuckle and orange blossom to make for a coffee that is pretty comparable to a white wine.
Light body; silky mouthfeel; citric acidity; clean finish.
FINALTHOUGHTS:
Bold Bean Coffee Roasters really went against their own name with the three coffees they provided me this weekend, all of which were anything but “bold.” They were elegant, graceful, sophisticated, and absolutely delicious. And there was no more apropos way to bookend the experience than with their Kenya Thithi and this, their Costa Rica Finca Cirri.
The Kenya Thithi was pretty similar to a spiced red wine, and this Costa Rica Finca Cirri was its antithesis—a crisp, clean, effervescent, sparkling coffee that, to stick with the wine analogy, pretty closely resembled a Riesling.
A fine, delicate, and sophisticated cup of coffee, the Finca Cirri showcased a light body, a crystalline clarity, soft edges, and bright, clean flavors of stone fruit, berries, grape, and flowers.
*content provided by Bold Bean Coffee Roasters
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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.