Costa Rica Hacienda La Minita
My Friend's Coffee
Dark Chocolate, Dried Cherry, Almond, Orange
There's much to say about this coffee, but here's the upshot: La Minita brews a classic cup that's rich, balanced, and infinitely drinkable. For its genre, it's damn near impossible to beat.
Now onto the fine print.
La Minita is a pioneer of the specialty movement. It boasts a Rain Forest Alliance certification, and churns out reliably exceptional crops. It's not uncommon to spot La Minita as a "Reserve" offering at certain coffee behemoths. They'll charge you an arm and a leg for 8 oz, and the roast will smack disquietingly of Kingsford briquettes. This roast is delicate, i.e., light, and it neatly frames the coffee's best features.
Experimental processing is all the rage these days, but this coffee reminds the drinker that a good washed process is a thing of beauty. The interplay between acidity and sweetness is sublime. The whole thing is as balanced as a Jenga tower (not the right comp considering Jenga's tendency to topple, but you get the idea). The mouthfeel is equally wonderful: thick but not muddy, rich but not overbearing, a goldilocks viscosity that recalls the syrupy feel of melted chocolate.
The big note on this cup is chocolate. Dark chocolate. Picture a high-percentage bar, the type we all like to pretend is healthy. Now picture tossing it into a skillet, melting it, and drinking it. That's the chocolate in this brew. Some dried cherry provides a fruity snap, and a hit of almond grounds the body. As the cup cools, you'll catch an orange note that's really lovely. There's nothing fancy about the cup, but sometimes white tee shirts look better than tuxedoes (most times, in fact), and the same principle holds true here. It's simplicity as art. Perfect for you, Dad, or just about anyone.
- Farm - Hacienda La Minita
- Process - Washed
- Region - Tarrazu
- Altitude - 1,300 - 1,800 MASL
- Varietal - Caturra, Catuai Red, Catuai Yellow, and Tipica Hibrido
Best for:
- Pour Over
- French Press
- Drip Machine
- Aeropress
- Espresso (dairy and otherwise)
Unless otherwise stated, all bags are sold in 12 oz quantities.