We are proud to announce that we will be roasting the 2008 Brazil Cup of Excellence 1st Place Winner: The Fazenda Kaquend! The Fazenda Kaquend will roast on June 1st, 2009 and may only roast once, so be sure to place your pre-orders. This year’s first place Brazil Cup of Excellence winner comes from producer Ralph de Castro Junqueira, proud owner of Fazenda Kaquend. He takes considerable care to preserve the native forest areas and natural springs on his farm and this commitment to his land is mirrored in the quality of the beautiful coffee he submitted for competition. Bourbon and Catuai varieties are grown at 1340 meters above sea level and are completely harvested by hand. The coffee is processed in the pulped-natural manner, meaning the beans are de-pulped of their fruit while the mucilage layer, instead of being entirely removed, is allowed dry on the bean.
A coffee processed in this manner will typically have heightened sweetness and body without too many of the excessive fruity undertones characteristic of full-natural coffees. In this case, the coffee is incredibly sweet and clean, with noticeable acidity, silky full body, and flavors of strawberry, bing cherry, and caramelized nuts. Prepared as a single origin espresso, the Fazenda Kaquend is sweet nectar. Tantalizingly clean with a brisk lemon-tart acidity, you’ll find more of the lovely notes of fresh cherry, a viscous body, and a beautifully lingering black licorice finish. This coffee makes an enjoyably bright and elegantly acidic espresso.