Colombia La Cristalina Excelso

This luscious and rich coffee comes from the Association of Cristalina, a group of small-holder farms in Risaralda, Colombia. It's sweet and balanced with a smooth and slightly dry finish and big notes of milk chocolate, caramel and cherry with some slight floral notes.

Arrival Date: February 27th, 2017

Acidity & Brightness: Moderately bright and very sweet

Balance & Finish: Extremely balanced, smooth, slightly dry finish

Body & Texture: Rich body and silky texture.

Flavors: Cherry, caramel, milk chocolate and floral undertones

Grade: Excelso - Medium large

Processing: Fully washed, hand picked, sun-dried

Varietal: Caturra

Roasting: We like this coffee best at a medium roast (Full City), though you'll get even more of the sweet notes at a light-medium (City+). This coffee can handle going darker, but much past Full City + and you'll turn the sweet notes a bit bitter.

Reminder! This coffee is raw, you must roast before grinding or brewing

Our Review: In 2007, the Association of Cristalina was formed by 55 founding members in the Guatica township in Risaralda, Colombia. Today there are over 150 members. The members strive to produce a quality coffee that brings them recognition nationally, and internationally, as a leader in the production of specialty coffee. The Assocation of Cristalina seeks to improve the social, organizational and business conditions for each coffee growing family in the Guatica township by producing an environmentally-sustainable unique cupping coffee. By doing this, they can receive a well deserved premium for their hard work and effort.

We don't get many conventional Colombian coffees here as there is an abundance of great Organic options, and when possible, we go with organic. However, when our importer told us just how good this coffee was, we had to have some. It's...luxurious for lack of a better term. Rich, silky body accompanied with a sweet front end and relatively low acidity. Little to no bite with a smooth yet slightly dry, lingering finish. Delightful notes of milk chocolate, cherry and caramel with some floral undertones. Absolutely stellar coffee!