Red Villamaria

Strawberry bubblegum joined by bright red currant & dark cherry.

Deep in the Villarazo region of Colombia, pioneering coffee social enterprise Raw Material has supported 30 smallholder families to establish their Red Villamaria association, empowering with skills and infrastructure. In an inspiring move, these Colombian farmers reached out to their Rwandan peers suffering from devastating landslides, donating part of their profit. And the coffee funding this impact is delicious! Ripe coffee is naturally processed, dried with fruit in-tact, for a vibrant cup of strawberry bubble gum, joined by bright red currant and dark cherry.

More about the Red Villamaria families

In the Five Senses pursuit of specialty coffee with a positive impact, the right relationships are key. Our partnership with the team at social enterprise, Raw Material, has unlocked an opportunity to support farming families in Colombia to achieve stable and sustainable prices. A critical step towards this is the establishment of Red ('network' in Spanish) Associations - allowing small scale producers to join forces for improved infrastructure, knowledge and resources.

In this case, 30 families in the Villarazo region have come together under the Red Villamaria banner and have a dedicated drying station located 500 meters down the mountain from their farms. This lower altitude offers hotter temperatures for faster, even drying, perfect for natural and honey processes and a general improvement of quality, ensuring higher value for the coffees.
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Suggested Recipe

In: 22g Out: 45g Time: 29sec Temp: 94.5°C

The Red Villamaria is a distinct offering from the Red Villamaria association in the Villarazo region of Colombia. Sourced by Five Senses, this lot undergoes a natural process, a method where the coffee cherry remains intact while drying, often allowing the bean to absorb the sugars and fruit-forward characteristics of the fruit pulp. While natural-processed coffees are frequently noted for their heavier body and intense sweetness, this specific selection highlights a vibrant profile of strawberry bubblegum, red currant, and dark cherry. To better understand how these specific fruit-forward descriptors align with broader industry standards, you can reference the flavor wheel. This coffee serves as a compelling example of how regional terroir and careful post-harvest handling can influence the final cup, offering a complex experience that balances the inherent brightness of Colombian coffee with the deep, jammy qualities typical of the natural method.