PHILOCOFFEA 280 NICARAGUA La Roca AA

<La Roca>

Located in the Di Pierto region of the Nova Segovia province in northwestern Nicaragua, bordering Honduras, it is renowned for its high-quality coffee and has repeatedly won the Cup of Excellence award. The region's exceptional advantages, including high altitude, fertile soil, and a pleasant climate, contribute to its prestigious reputation.

This coffee is grown by 65 small-scale coffee farmers living in the Cordillera mountains of the Di Pierto region. La Roca means "rock" in Spanish, and its name comes from the famous grotto of Our Lady of the Rock, meaning "Mary on the Rock".

Each farm hand-picks ripe coffee cherries and uses the traditional washed method for 14-24 hours of fermentation, followed by initial drying. Afterward, the coffee is transported to the Extrema dry mill, where it is meticulously dried on African-style drying beds covered with shade cloth. This strict environmental control ensures the cleanliness and consistent quality of the coffee.

Before baking, I thought to myself, "I'll bake it on a medium-high heat; that way, the texture will be warmer and softer!"

However, after the first crack, I smelled the aroma of the coffee beans—a gentle fruity and acidic scent that made me instinctively change my plans and decide on a light roast. (...or more accurately, I had already chosen a light roast before I even realized it, haha.) After roasting, I tasted it immediately and found that the bright and refreshing acidity was indeed a highlight, so I continued with a light roast. Because the coffee beans have a low moisture content and a compact texture, I gradually increased the temperature in the first half of the roasting process, allowing the flavors to develop slowly.

This coffee has a smooth flavor profile, with aromas of apple and citrus fruits, and a sweetness reminiscent of nuts and brown sugar. It also boasts a pleasant green tea finish. Unassuming yet possessing a calming quality, it's a coffee that blends perfectly into everyday life. It's a cup of coffee that brings warmth and comfort.

In today's trend of coffee shops vying for rich, intense flavors, La Roca's coffee gently embraces you with its smooth taste, soothing your soul. Slow down and savor this heartwarming cup of coffee, imbued with a nostalgic charm, without any restraint.