Los Romerillos AAA Washed

Aromas of yellow plum, candied almond, and milk chocolate introduce this juicy and pleasantly bright cup. We noted flavors of papaya, green grape, almond, and Meyer lemon, with soft notes of pecan and vanilla wafer in the finish.

Details

Producer: Los Romerillos Farm: 13 Smallholders Region: Zamora Province Altitude: 1,600-1,900 masl | 5,249-6,234 feet Varietal: Typica, Caturra, Bourbon Process: Washed Roast: Light Notes: Papaya, Candied Almond, Yellow Plum

The Story 

Imported by our friends at Caravela:

“In the highlands of Zumba, a small city in the province of Zamora, a few kilometres away from the border with Peru, there is a canton called Los Romerillos. Historically, the main source of income for people in the region was through the sale of fine wood from a type of tree called Romerillos. These people, who used to dedicate their lives to selling wood, decided a few years ago to become coffee growers, but kept the name Los Romerillos as a link to the past.

"Today, Zumba is home to the Bracamoros coffee fair. The name refers to the very first inhabitants of this small town, related to indigenous tribes from the Amazon who settled on the borders of the Mayo-Chinchipe river, in the province of Zamora. This event involves some of the best specialty coffee producers from the region, with their organic and conventional lots. This event selects the best 100 producers, which incentivizes the production of specialty coffee in the region as well as the country.”

Processing Notes

Coffee is harvested, washed, and fermented in cement tanks for 18-24 hours at each smallholder farm’s own micro-mill. The coffee is dried on shade covered patios before being evaluated and combined.

Sourced from the Zamora Province of Ecuador, the Los Romerillos AAA Washed represents a classic expression of the Typica varietal. Cultivated by the Los Romerillos producers at elevations between 1600 and 1900 masl, this lot undergoes a washed process, a method typically employed to highlight the inherent clarity and acidity of the bean. When roasted by PT's Coffee Roasting, the cup profile emphasizes bright, fruit-forward characteristics, specifically papaya and yellow plum, balanced by the sweetness of candied almond.

While washed coffees are often celebrated for their clean, vibrant profiles, the specific terroir of the Zamora region plays a significant role in shaping these final sensory attributes. To better understand how these distinct notes align with broader industry standards, tasters may find it helpful to reference the flavor wheel when evaluating the complexity of this Ecuadorian offering. This selection serves as a refined example of how traditional processing techniques can elevate a well-known varietal.