**NEW** COSTA RICA Las Lajas

This coffee comes to us from Oscar and Francisca Chacón and the Las Lajas Micromill. In 2005, after years of delivering their cherry to a cooperative for the going market price, they decided to join the brand-new "micromill revolution" and buy their own depulper to have more control over the quality and the price they received for their lots. It was a gamble that paid off. This new freedom allowed them to experiment with new processing methods to create some of the most exciting new flavor profiles in specialty coffee. They now offer lots that run the gamut of processing methods from fully washed to extended anaerobic fermentation naturals.

Long time Sump patrons will know Las Lajas by name. We’ve purchased many lots from them over the years and have become big fans in the process. Coffees from Las Lajas are always on the wild side and this lot is no exception. This naturally processed coffee was subjected to an extended fermentation phase and the result is bright red fruit and berries throughout the cup. Most notably we taste boysenberry and tamarind with a hint of lemon zest as the cup cools. While not necessarily a daily driver, this coffee is perfect for the adventurous coffee drinker who’s looking for an exciting cup.

Produced by Oscar and Francisca Chacón, this Costa Rica Las Lajas offering from Sump Coffee highlights the meticulous craftsmanship found in the Costa Rica region. As a natural-processed coffee, the cherries are dried with the fruit intact, a technique that often imparts a distinct sweetness and complexity to the final cup. Generally, natural-processed coffees tend to show heavier fruit profiles and a syrupy body compared to their washed counterparts, as the bean absorbs sugars from the drying fruit pulp. You can learn more about the nuances of these processing methods to better understand how they influence the cup’s character. In this specific lot, the roaster identifies vibrant notes of boysenberry, tamarind, and lemon zest. To better categorize these descriptors, you may find it helpful to reference the flavor wheel when evaluating the interplay between the bright citrus acidity and the deeper, jammy fruit tones present in this selection.