Cariño: Apex Blend

Cariño is a seasonally-updated espresso blend, with honey-processed coffees as a primary component.  Our Apex Series answer to espresso: creamy, nutty, and sweet with vibrant blackcurrant and black cherry notes. Balanced and expressive on its own, it shines in milk with a velvety texture and lingering floral finish.

Unlike traditional "washed" coffee processing, in which all the fruit is removed from the coffee bean before fermentation and drying, honey processing involves leaving some of that fruit on the bean, allowing it to ferment and dry that way and resulting in a sweet, juicy coffee.  

Good Food Award Finalist 2022!

The Cariño: Apex Blend, crafted by Higher Grounds Trading Co., showcases the versatility of coffee production in Honduras. By utilizing the honey process, this blend bridges the gap between the clean profile of washed coffees and the intense fruit character often found in natural-processed beans. As detailed in our processing methods explainer, the honey method leaves a portion of the fruit mucilage on the bean during drying, which frequently contributes to a heightened perception of sweetness and a more viscous body.

In the cup, this specific selection presents a balanced interplay of creamy, nutty undertones alongside vibrant notes of blackcurrant and black cherry. For those looking to better understand how these distinct characteristics are categorized, we recommend consulting our flavor wheel. This blend serves as an excellent example of how careful post-harvest handling can influence the final sensory experience, resulting in a cup that is both comforting and complex.