Colombia - Gleidys Ramírez

Another CDNT producer, this lot was all comfort flavours and very sweet - a classic example of Castillo processed well. This lot was separated out from the regional blend due to its quality, and we're releasing it as a nice easy going washed lot full of comfort flavours - and as such we're taking the roast a touch further to support the cup.

Brew Guide:

Best Brewed with: Filter

Light Roaster Influence: Trad Washed Castillo can be a little herbal at the lightest roast degree, we find the cup profile is much improved by taking it a smidge further - slowing down the overall roast time as well as extending those final moments of the roast, adding  a little brown sugar backbone.

Best Rested: 3-4 weeks

Filter: 60g/L & 96°C, with rest we like to move down to 94°C

Espresso: Trad spro best - 18g/45g/25s+

We’re tasting: Aromas of milk chocolate, dried apple and fig jam. In the cup it's got a syrupy texture with the aromatics carrying through to the cup, joined with ripe plum, toffee apples and cranberry, alongside toasted pistachio & macademia nut. We're finding a little of the traditional Castillo cup character but presenting as fig leaf - hints of coconut, vanilla and a fresh herbality.

Traceability

Country of Origin:	Colombia
Region:	La Palmera, Casablanca, Tolima
Producer:	Gleidys Ramírez
Group:	Caficultores Diferenciados del Norte del Tolima (CDNT)
Variety:	Castillo
Elevation:	1800 MASL
Process:	Traditional Washed: Ripe cherries picked, pulped, fermented in open tanks before washing; dried in a marquesina.
Import Partner:	LaREB
Harvest	Arrived UK: 02/12/25. New Purchasing Relationship.

 

The Story

One of the last releases from the swathe of LaREB lots we booked towards the end of last year, we really enjoyed the structured acidity and deep sweetness of this lot - just a real nice, chuggable traditional Colombian coffee. Bought for exactly that purpose, we've been waiting for a slot on the offer to release this.

LaREB has a rigarous QC program at origin - cupping through hundreds of samples, they evaluate lots as producers bring them to them. Those that are cupping above regional quality will be seperated out and offered to clients, and if we book them they remain seperated out. The premiums these lots attract are paid directly to producers as a secondary payment, which is a brilliant model. As producers are free to chose if they work with LaREB or not - there is no obligation to return, every producer is a free agent - it's not always possible to get the same coffees continually, but given enough time we're seeing some of the CDNT adjacent producers we've purchased from return to the offer.

This coffee is a classic every day coffee but super nice for what it is - we did our first test roast a month ago, and it's fuelled many a chilly morning production batch brew - bang on for spec