COLOMBIA • FRANK TORRES • VARIETY SELECT
ORIGIN:
The La Indonesia farm has been in the Torres family for over 40 years. At just over 2 hectares, Frank dedicates most of the land to coffee and plantains. He started his coffee career by working for Starbucks' specialty coffee program before becoming a green buyer for several importers. Such experience informs his innovative approach to processing and explains why he grows so many unique lots. He is also very conscious of environmental impacts and focused heavily on soil conservation and biodiversity at farm level. As of this year 90% of his farm production is organic.
This is year four working with Frank and we realized competing with his Pink Bourbon lot from last harvest was going to be tough. So we doubled down, or perhaps more accurately, tripled down and brought in three different varieties! The first is a Colombia, which went through Frank's 'reposado' processing in which ripe cherries are sealed in tanks for 24-36 hours before de-pulping and drying. The second is a Maracaturra, which is a naturally occurring hybrid of Maragogype and Caturra, believed to have emerged in the 1800s. And the third is the much-lauded Sidra variety! It continues to appear on stage at barista and coffee competitions with its intensely floral and fruit-forward profile.
These lots work in tandem like a chorus. Across all three you will find the bright but sweet citric acidity of tangerine or Minneola orange atop brown sugar and honey flavours. However, they diverge along three distinct sensory paths. The Colombia lot brings pear, marzipan, caramels and white tea. I couldn't resist putting the Swedish Sticky Caramel Almond Cake, Toscakaka Torte, on the labels given all its cooked sugar notes. The Maracaturra moves through jammy blueberry and cooked orange notes before an intensely cream finish. It is heavy but clean, like a cup of Greek yogurt topped with honey and berries. Lastly, the Sidra is immaculate, mixing all those floral notes of hibiscus, lavender, and fresh cut flowers over the lively intensity of ruby red grapefruit, of course, topped with a generous serving of brown sugar.
Light-Medium.
Colombia: Red Anjou Pear, Tangerine & Toscakaka Torte.
Maracaturra: Blueberry, Marmalade & Greek Yogurt w Honey.
Sidra: Hibiscus, Lavender & Ruby Red Grapefruit Juice.
REGION:
La Union, Nariño.
FARM:
VARIETY:
Colombia.
Maracuttra.
Sidra.
ELEVATION:
1750-1850m.
PROCESS:
Fully Washed.
IMPORTER:
Jeff & Julie at Apex.
FOB PRICING:
Colombia: $14.50 USD per Kilogram.
Maracaturra: $18.52 per Kilogram.
Sidra: $52.91 USD per Kilogram.
(This is the price before transport costs including shipping, brokerage, etc.)
YEARS PARTNERED:
Four Harvests (2020, 2021, 2022 & 2023).