Honduras Esmeralda 72 Hour Double Anaerobic

Honeydew, Watermelon, Tarragon, Cocoa

The lot comes by way of La Esmeralda (not to be confused with the Panamanian Esmeralda), a Marcala farm at soaring altitudes that's gathered a reputation for uncommon production. It's composed of Caturra and Typica and was grown at upward of 1,700 meters under some of the tightest controls imaginable. As with most killer progressive processes, detailing every step that went into creating this coffee would require a leather-bound tome, but briefly:

First, cherries were hand-picked for ripeness, then sorted and floated to remove defects and ensure quality. Next came a 72-hour anaerobic fermentation stage, yielding dense sugar development. Coffee monks through and through, the Esmeralda folks carefully monitored temperatures during fermentation, adjusting as needed to avoid off-flavors. Finally, they put the coffee on raised beds for a slow drying stage. The process amps up fruit tones through its extended anaerobic fermentation and creates an infinitely sweet, silky quality thanks to the careful drying protocol.

In the cup, honeydew melon looms large. A proud honeydew that would puff its chest if it had a chest to puff. It's a bang-up headliner not simply for its fruity flair, but for its sweetness. Plus, the melon puts out a bat signal, inviting similar fruit to the party. Watermelon shows up, and the whole thing turns into a decidedly fruit-forward affair.

On the cool, a garden note emerges. It's reminiscent of tarragon, creating unusual verdancy. Meanwhile, the mouthfeel starts big and only gets bigger, with smooth edges and a creamy quality. That creaminess speaks in part to a cocoa note, which turns the cup unusually silky and rich for a fruit bomb.

The final thing to mention here isn't so much a note as it is a style. This coffee is surprisingly clean given its processing. 72 hours of oxygen-suppressed fermentation would normally create some heavy funk tones and more than a touch of acetic flare. Not so with this cup. It's pure fruit and silky goodness, and that's a bit of a magic trick.