I recently polled my social media feeds for coffee roaster recommendations. I got several responses, but only a few variations in recommendations—the most reoccurring answer was Máquina Coffee Roasters, and today’s coffee specifically. With so many recommendations (and free domestic shipping!), it was a no-brainer.
Welcome to my Table, here in the corner of this cafe. Today we’re cupping the Ecuador Finca La Joya, from Maquina Coffee Roasters in West Chester, Pennsylvania. Feel free to pull up a chair.
Finca La Joya is a single farm micro-lot from the Gonzanamá region of Loja, harvested between August and September of 2018. The producer is Santiago Crespo and his farm sits at an elevation of between 1,890 and 1,930 meters above sea level, comprised of four hectares and and 16,000 trees in total. He has a huge mix of varietals which is very common in Ecuador, consisting of: Typica, Red and Yellow Caturra, Red and Yellow Bourbon, and Pacas.
Santiago does a dry fermentation for 24 hours and then sun dries on raised beds for between 8-15 days, depending on the climate. Máquina cupped his coffees throughout the entire harvest and each lot was as consistent as the last. This is the second harvest Máquina has purchased from Santiago.*
THEDETAILS
region: Gonzanamá, Loja, Ecuador
farm: Finca La Joya
producer: Santiago Crespo
association: N/A
elevation: 1890 – 1930 meters above sea level
varietal: Typica, Red Caturra, Yellow Caturra, Red Bourbon, Yellow Bourbon, Pacas
process: fully washed, raised bed dried
CUPPINGNOTES
The aroma of the Ecuador Finca La Joya is sweet and fragrant, brimming with scents of dried fruit, honey, brown sugar, and wildflowers.
The first sips from the cup are fairly emblematic of an Ecuadorian coffee—medium-bodied, mellow sweetness, mild acidity. Pretty straightforward with flavors of dried fruits, fig, and turbinado sugar. As the coffee cools, however, it bursts to life. Apricot, pear, a burst of florals… Not unlike a Gusher candy, I had to get beyond its surface level to get to its core; and once there, the coffee becomes lush, full-bodied, juicy, bright, and vibrant, with a tart, malic acidity that leaves behind a dry finish.
Máquina Coffee Roasters’s Ecuador Finca La Joya is an incredible coffee. It has unbelievable depth, clarity, roundedness, and flavor.
*content courtesy of Maquina Coffee Roasters
What were your thoughts of this one? Comments, questions, and suggestions are always welcome! Feel free to enter a comment below.
UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED, ALL PRODUCTS REVIEWED ARE UNSOLICITED SUBMISSIONS FROM THE PRODUCT MANUFACTURER.
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.