SHADY LANE

Description

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: Carmen’s El Naranjo farm is tucked in the cool upper reaches of Cuilco’s mountain range. The name translates to ‘the orange tree’ and references some of the many fruit trees that dot the farm. They are one small part of the farm’s much larger and more intricate ecosystem. Carmen focuses on soil health and biodiversity, with both a wide swath of coffee varietals and a huge range of shade plants inter-planted across El Naranjo.  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 lot from Carmen Diaz is a perfect fit, with all its big chocolate, red grape, and candied pecan flavours. PARAMETERS:  For espresso, use a 1:2 to 1:2.1 ratio in 29-34 seconds. ROAST DEGREE:  Medium. TASTE: Toffee, Chocolate & Raisin Butter Tart. REGION: Cuilco, Huehuetenango. FARM: El Naranjo. VARIETAL: Bourbon, Catimor, Caturra, Maragogype & Pache. ELEVATION: 2000m. PROCESS: Fully Washed. IMPORTER: Sally at Cafe Imports. FOB PRICING: $14.08 USD per Kilogram. (This is the price before transport costs including shipping, brokerage, etc.)  YEARS PARTNERED: This is our first harvest from Carmen Diaz.