Specialty Coffee Association of Costa Rica: COLORADO SPRINGS

WOC Community Lounge Extrinsic Exercise

Company Name

Specialty Coffee Association of Costa Rica

Name of Coffee

National Winner COE: Farm COLORADO SPRINGS BY JARDIN DE AROMAS, producer Carole Zbinden

Nestled on the slopes of the Barva volcano at an altitude of 1700 meters, the Colorado Springs coffee farm, managed by Carole Zbinden, sprawls across 31.5 hectares in the fine terroir of Carrizal de Alajuela, in Costa Rica's Central Valley. The farm, COLORADO SPRINGS BY JARDIN DE AROMAS, is a testament to a successful women’s partnership between Carole and farmer Patricia Dada, who recently planted the Centroamericano varietal on a 1.3-hectare parcel of her father's cherished land. This varietal, also known as H1, is a cross between the rare Sudan Rume and Sarchimor, developed by the Earth Agronomical Research Center in Costa Rica, symbolizing both the country's innovative spirit and its rich coffee heritage.

The 2023-2024 harvest of this exquisite nano lot was processed with meticulous care at the boutique mill Beneficio Jardin de Aromas, established in 2011 and focused on specialty coffees. Carole Zbinden, the owner, is a respected member of the board of the International Women's Coffee Alliance (IWCA) Costa Rica. The coffee cherries, handpicked at their peak ripeness in December and January, underwent a careful wet mill process. After resting overnight at the mill, the cherries were de-pulped, and the mucilage-coated parchment coffee was dried slowly over three weeks on raised beds in Jardin de Aromas' fragrant open-air garden. Shielded at night and sun-kissed by day, the sugars in the honey parchment crystallized beautifully. The coffee then rested in sealed bags in a wood cellar for over three months before being perfectly peeled and classified at the dry mill, resulting in a Yellow Honey Process that imparts a fruity explosion to the coffee.

In June 2024, this exceptional coffee was proudly included in the National Winner Coffee Collection of the Cup of Excellence. A delightful blend, it captivates with notes of brown sugar and a sweet, lemony acidity, offering a light body that is both fresh and soft. We invite you to savor this unique coffee, a true embodiment of Costa Rican excellence and the dedication of the women who bring it to your cup.