Costa Rica Sumava de Lourdes Orange Bourbon

Tasting Notes:

Honeydew Melon | Date | Cactus Pear Juice

Tasting Notes:

Honeydew Melon | Date | Cactus Pear Juice

This coffee is a unique and special treat from the farm of our

longtime friend and producer extraordinaire, Francisco Mena. At one

of the highest points on Sumava de Lourdes is a small plot of rare

Orange Bourbon growing in the shade of the farm’s ancient pine

trees. This uncommon orange version is a natural mutation of the

more common red bourbon cultivar that we all know and love.

When we first came upon the ripe and radiating orange cherries

during a recent harvest visit to the Sumava farm, it looked to us like

these coffee trees were on fire! It’s one of the prettiest and eyecatching coffee trees we’ve ever seen.

In the cup this Orange Bourbon delivers all the depth and clarity we

expect from the best Bourbons, with a lingering honeydew melon

sweetness that persists from hot to cool. This is a super small

microlot so we don’t have a lot. Get it now!

We recommend brewing this as a filter coffee (Kalita or V60) using a

1:16 ratio.

Farm: Sumava de Lourdes

Producer: Francisco Mena

Region: Lourdes de Naranjo, West Valley, Costa Rica

Cultivar: Orange Bourbon

Elevation: 1700 Meters

Process: Red Honey (pulped natural)

Drying: 10 – 12 days on covered raised beds

Producer Partnership: Since 2007

Produced by Francisco Mena in the Lourdes de Naranjo area of the West Valley, this Costa Rica selection showcases the meticulous work of Flying Goat Coffee. The lot features the Orange Bourbon varietal, a rare mutation of the classic Bourbon plant known for its distinct fruit-forward potential. By utilizing a Red Honey processing method, the producer leaves a significant portion of the coffee cherry’s mucilage on the bean during drying, which often contributes to a heightened sweetness and a syrupy mouthfeel.

When evaluating such unique profiles, tasters often reference the flavor wheel to identify the nuanced interplay between acidity and sugar. This specific offering presents a complex sensory experience characterized by notes of honeydew melon, date, and cactus pear juice. As with many honey-processed coffees, the balance achieved here highlights the intersection of careful cultivation and precise post-harvest handling.