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| Coffee drying tables in Bolivia |
October 15, 2012
Just arrived! We're excited about two decaf Bolivia direct trade coffees we've received and cupped. They're sourced by the respected
Invalsa Coffee group based in West Newberry, Mass. Nelson Valverde has strong connections in Bolivia and has built relationships with several cooperatives there. Over time, these relationships enable a level of trust and communication that results in great coffee arriving at his Boston area warehouse.
San Ignacio AA Organic: the decaf is from the San Ignacio cooperative. These beans come from the farms of Humberto, Isidro & Juan Carlos Mamani
from Colonia San Ignacio in the Yungas region of Bolivia. For the past four
years Invalsa has bought all of San Ignacio's coffee production at guaranteed
minimum prices, based on quality, as part of a multi-year contract. We also pay
for the cooperative's annual organic certification. We are very happy with our
long term relationship with San Ignacio and we have already seen significant
improvements in the quality of their coffee and the lives of the farmers. We are
proud to be the main source and inspiration for both improvements.
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| Lucio Vilca, San Ignacio Coop President |
This coffee is shade-grown in the higher altitudes of the Carrasco La Reserva
County, Caranavi Province. It was depulped and washed using pure Andes mountain
spring water, sun-dried on wooden table tops and hand sorted by "Palliris"
(Aymara Indian women food graders).
Varietals: Tipica 90%, Caturra 10%
Harvest Year: 2011/12.
Storage: Packed in GrainPro bags at origin, re-packed in GrainPro
after decaffeination.
Altitude: 4,000+ feet.
Certifications: Organic.
Screen: 16/17
Decaf process: Mountain Water Process, Veracruz, Mexico
Bolivia/Brazil Blend AAA: while
Artisan Coffee Imports typically stays away from blends, this one cupped so well, we had to add it to the line-up. This is 2011/12-crop, 100% Arabica.
Varietals: Brazilian Bourbon from Grupo BSC in Sul Minas, Bolivian Typica from San Ignacio
Storage: Packed in GrainPro bags at origin, re-packed in GrainPro
after decaffeination.
Altitude: 2,500+ feet.
Screen: 16
Decaf process: Mountain Water Process, Veracruz, Mexico
Cupping Notes: Remarkable, creamy body with citric acidity. Brown sugar and
chocolate tones. Smooth mouthfeel. Balanced flavor. No apologies for decaf.
CoffeeReview Awards: The July 2010 issue of
CoffeeReview.com, the
world's leading coffee buying guide, ranked Invalsa as the best decaf coffee in North
America; the only one with a score of 90 points.
Obviously, these coffee beans are new crop, not the ones reviewed in 2010, but
we like these even better.
