Peru – Rioja Family 250g

Unlike the typical profiles associated with washed Peruvian coffees of low acidity chocolate, and toasted nuts, the Rioja family’s lot instead leans into a more vibrant tropical and zingy fruitiness and acidity, with rich red wine and sweet syrupy cherry notes to finish off. Mildly spiced while still maintaining the sweetness and strength typical of South American coffees.

The Rioja family runs a 2-hectare coffee farm called El Perlamayo, located at an altitude of 1,900 meters above sea level. At this elevation, the effects of climate change and fluctuating temperatures are becoming more apparent. Droughts are happening more frequently, posing a risk to coffee production.

To mitigate the impacts of climate change, the Riojas have installed shade trees throughout the farm to help regulate temperatures. They have also focused on effective irrigation and soil health by building proper drainage and regularly distributing organic fertilizers.

The harvest runs from June through October each year. After picking, the coffee cherries are rested before being depulped and then soaked in water for 24 hours. The beans are then washed and moved to raised beds for slow sun drying over approximately 20 days. Once the moisture content reaches ideal levels, the parchment coffee is prepared for storage.