June 2021 Magic Seeds
We are super excited to introduce you to this month's Magic Seeds, a red honey processed Red Cataui grown by Carlos Sérgio Sanglard on his farm, Sitio Serra do Boné. We have plenty to say about that, but first let's take a look at our Daily Drinker.
Your Daily Drinker for June is from Fazenda Monte Verde in Carmo de Minas, Brazil. It is a natural processed coffee, which means that the fruit and skin have been allowed to dry like a raisin on the protective, shell-like parchment before being removed from the seeds. This results in a cup that typically has a deeper sweetness and an increased body. We are seeing a strong representation of the classic flavors we have come to expect in naturally processed coffees from Carmo. There is a creamy cocoa foundation, with the typical nuttiness being expressed as black walnut. The traditional red berry flavors have a bit more complexity than usual, reminding us of Hawaiian Fruit Punch.
Your Magic Seeds for this month comes from Sitio Serra do Boné, owned by Carlos Sérgio Sanglard in Araponga, Matas de Minas, Brazil. This selection is a red honey processed Catuai, a processing method not commonly found in Brazil. Carlos' small (by Brazilian standards) farm has frequently appeared among the top coffees in Brazil's Cup of Excellence - the mostly highly regarded, international judged coffee competition. These appearances include a first place finish in 2003.
the mountains surrounding Sitio Serra do Boné
Honey processed coffees have the coffee's skin and some of the fruit removed before being allowed to dry in the sun. This allows the coffee to take on more transparent fruit flavors, without developing quite the same richness as a natural. While honey processing is very similar to Brazil's tradition of pulped-natural, the key distinction is drying time. By slowing the process down, Carlos is able to draw out a more vibrant fruit flavor. Interestingly to us, even days after roasting this coffee, it made our production facility smell exactly like visiting a coffee mill in country. In eleven years of roasting coffee, we have never had this experience.
In this cup, we're first hit with a tropical fruit sweetness, which develops into the flavors of tasting coffee cherries right off the tree. Underneath this we're seeing notes of toffee and hazelnut. The body is very creamy and combined with the sweet fruit flavors, we are reminded of a fresh banana shake.
We hope that you have loved this month's Magic Seeds and look forward to sharing another exceptional experience with you next month.
Photos provided by Café Imports.
