In February this year, the folks at Lineage Roasting were privileged to be a part of an ongoing training effort in Antioquia. The goal is to support the coffee community while giving them the education to produce a higher quality coffee. We were able to meet with the growers and give advice of what we might look for when purchasing a coffee. We told the farmers that a clean cup with high sweetness is what we must have in order to produce a truly great coffee. Although there were quite a few coffees with high sweetness the majority we cupped were a bit dirty having off taints of over fermentation and under ripe cherries. However, this coffee was one that took us by surprise in a big way.
Maria harvests her trees on Monday every other week and begins de pulping and fermentation immediately. Because the temperatures were a little lower than usual this year she prolonged the fermentation period from the usual 18 hours to 24 hours. Following the fermentation the coffee is washed until clean and placed in rows on her families drying patio. Again with quality being the focus she did a longer drying period of 18 days this year to produce a depth of sweetness.
Antioquia is not known as being the highest quality producing state in Colombia although they truly do have the perfect conditions with high elevation and mineral rich soil. Unfortunately this is an area which has been muddled with drug conflict which interfered with the production of consistently high quality coffee.*
Welcome to my Table, here in the corner of this cafe. Today we’re sipping the Colombia San Antonio, from Lineage Roasting in Orlando, Florida, courtesy of Craft Coffee. Feel free to pull up a chair.
THEDETAILS:
region: Antioquia, Colombia
farm: Finca San Antonio
producer: Maria Alvarez Restrepo
association: N/A
elevation: 1900 meters above sea level
cultivars: Caturra
process: fully washed, patio dried
certifications: standard
CUPPINGNOTES:
Immediately upon opening the bag, the aroma of the Colombia San Antonia comes wafting up, tickling my nose with scents of strawberries, cream, and florals. The wet aroma is even more pleasing, as the sugary sweetness accentuates.
Taking my first few sips of the cup immediately post-brew, I am immediately struck by the coffee’s bright, lively, and sweet profile. I mean, really, this coffee is on a whole other level. Vanilla ice cream and honey combine to create a sugary, creamy mouthfeel that coats the palate. The real star of the show, though, is an intensely bright and sweet strawberry note that—combined with the vanilla ice cream flavor and creamy texture—is reminiscent of strawberry milk; and that strawberry milk flavor is complemented very well by a cantaloupe note that is so lovely on the palate. Each sip finishes with a clean, crisp snap that leaves a sprinkling of floral aromatics and baking spices lingering in the aftertaste.
As the cup cools off a bit the coffee gets somewhat complex, but even more unique. Now, in addition to the sugary sweetness it’s already presented, the coffee is showing off a bit of zest with notes of lemon rind and spiced cherry.
Light body; creamy mouthfeel; malic acidity; clean finish.
FINALTHOUGHTS:
I have had some really incredible Colombian coffees over the past few years and, I have to say, Lineage Roasting’s Colombia San Antonio ranks near the top.
This coffee was utterly delightful from start to finish; so sweet, so balanced, so clean, and with such dynamite clarity, it provides a refreshing, flavorful, and very unique cupping experience. Loads of fruit, soft sugary sweets, creamy, a little bit of zest and spice, lots of liveliness…
Really, I can’t recommend this one highly enough.
*content courtesy of Lineage Roasting
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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.