SHADY LANE

A LIGHT DARK ROAST:
People have been drinking dark roasts for over two-centuries and it seems both short-sighted and careless to ignore history. And yet if you roast too dark, all of the unique flavours of origin are lost and you simply taste the bitter burn and one-dimensional char of the roast process itself.

Shady Lane is a new way of roasting that uses a gentle approach and precise technique to strike a compromise: it engages in our coffee past with an approachable low-acidity  but also showcases the deeply sweet and delicious chocolatey notes possible with particular origins. It is new and old because as the Pavement song concludes, "the worlds collide, but all that we want is a shady lane". 

ORIGIN:
Sendero de Luz works as a community hub for several small farms in El Playón. Despite the collective pool, all of the lots are Catuai with fresh cherries all going to the Sendero de Luz farm for processing. By virtue of its cooperative nature, the association allows smallholder farms to negotiate better prices and reduce the overall costs of milling and transport. It also facilitates export, in this case becoming part of Cafe Import's 'farm select' program, which means better returns for their labour and cherries. 

FLAVOUR:
Sourcing crops for Shady Lane is always a fun challenge. We look for crops with a smooth sensory experience opening with a mild acidity, think cooked apples or pears, with a strong cocoa or cooked sugar backing. This Catuai is a perfect fit, with all its big chocolate, sweet cooked grape, and candied pecan flavours. It is a wonderfully sweet and comforting cup.