El Proceso Chiroso

Yet another first for JBC! We’re super pumped to feature our first-ever Chiroso coffee variety from cousins Stiven Vargas Rojas and Jorge Elias Rojas Vásquez. This coffee is so sparkly and intense with tasting notes of sparkling grape juice, raspberry, pink grapefruit, red currant, cardamom, and tropical fruit. If you are a lover of a sparkling acidity with complex fruit notes and a little spicy kick, this microlot is for you! It is truly yet another special coffee hailing from a small but mighty farm in the beautiful coffee growing region of Tolima, Colombia.

About the Variety-Shrouded in Mystery. There is little known about how the Chiroso variety made its way to where it was discovered growing wildly in Urrao, Antioquia, Colombia. The genetics of the coffee say it is most closely related to Ethiopia Landrace varieties, yet here it was discovered in the mountains of Colombia growing along side more common varieties like Caturra. No one knows how it got there. What is known, is that this rare variety offers up an elevated cup quality that mimics the florality of the geisha variety and the sweetness/silky body of the Pink Bourbon variety. The name Chiroso means “big” or “bumpy” and is thought to be named because its elongated shape resembles achiras, a traditional and imperfectly shaped Colombian biscuit. While there is much to learn about how this variety found its way to Colombia, what we do know is that the cup value and sensory characteristics speak for themselves.

Farm Level Info. This microlot underwent a 2-step-fermentation process. After red ripe cherries are harvested, the coffee is first floated to remove under ripe cherries, along with leaves, sticks, and other foreign materials. The coffee cherries then go into covered barrels for 36 hours. Next the coffee is pulped and then undergoes another fermentation in mucilage for 24 hours. Next the coffee is fully washed, after which the coffee is laid out on drying beds in traditional Marquesinas, where the coffee is stirred frequently to ensure even drying.