New Seasonal Blend: Spring Blend 2019
Spring Blend 2019
Tanzania – Origin Mill (Rafiki)
Uganda – Kapchorwa
Mexico – Finca Guadalupe Zaju
Flavour: Maple syrup, subtle rosemary, spicy finish
Acidity: Apple, red wine grapes
Body: Elegant, light syrupy
Roast: Light—medium
Suitable for: Mokapot, espresso, pourover, Aeropress
Tanzania – Origin Mill (Rafiki)
OWNER Smallholder farmers affiliated with Rafiki mill
TOWNVarious small towns around
Northern Tanzania
VARIETAL(S) Various
PROCESSING Fully washed
Rafiki (which means ‘friend’ in Swahili), operates the dry mill in Moshi where this coffee (a mix of multiple group and individual lots) was milled. Rafiki has been instrumental in helping many producer groups in Tanzania to begin to celebrate quality in coffee and they will continue to support them in the coming years to ensure that groups seeing to better themselves and their production can stand on their own two feet.
Uganda – Kapchorwa
OWNER997 farmers
TOWNKapchorwa district, Sipi sub-county
VARIETAL(S)SL28, SL 34, & some SL14,
Nyasaland & Bugisu
PROCESSINGFully washed & dried on raised beds
All participating farmers are smallholders whose families have grown coffee for generations. The average farm size is only around 1 hectare, and on this most families also farm a variety of subsistence crops such as matooke (cooking banana) and fruit trees, beans, peas, millet and coco yam. Although matooke is also an important cash crop, coffee is the more valuable source of income for most families, particularly for livelihood improvement investment. It represents about 77% of the farm acreage and provides the cash flow required for large investments (school fees, livestock, land, house construction etc.), whereas matooke provides week-on-week regular cash flow for smaller day-to-day purchases.
Environmental protection is very important, as well. The Kapchorwa area borders the Mt. Elgon national park. Park boundaries are clearly indicated and guarded by the Uganda Wildlife Authority, but Kyagalanyi know that ecological preservation across the board is very important for long-term sustainability.
Mexico – Finca Guadalupe Zaju
OWNER Eduardo ‘Teddy’ Esteve
TOWNToquian Grande & Pavencul, Soconusco Region
VARIETAL(S) 30% Caturra, 50% Marsellesa,
20% Hybrids
PROCESSING Fully washed & dried in guardiolas
Beautiful Finca Guadalupe Zaju occupies 310 hectares right on Chiapas, Mexico’s famed ‘Ruta de Cafe’. This ‘Route of Coffee’ rides along the Guatemalan border, north from the border town of Tapachula, through Mexico’s famed Soconusco region. The route flows past some of Mexico’s most famous farms – including the Fincas Hamburgo and Irlanda. A neighbour of these farms, Guadelupe Zaju is well on its way to helping carry on the region’s reputation as a location for high-quality coffee.
When Guadalupe Zaju’s current owner, Eduardo ‘Teddy’ Esteve, purchased the farm in 2004, it was a true act of faith and commitment to making the formerly great farm into a bastion of quality again. Teddy’s family had been involved in commodity trading – including coffee, tea and cocoa – for over 150 years, and he had worked on the coffee end of the business for his whole life. In his own words, he says “I grew up cleaning up the cupping room in the office and being involved in clerical matters since my early days to complement my allowance.” He directly started working for the family company in 1983. However, he had never directly been involved in farming coffee.
After purchasing Guadalupe Zaju, Teddy purchased two neighbouring farms – La Gloria and Chanjul – in 2011, all of which are run, today, under the name of Guadalupe Zaju. Currently, only 350 hectares of the farm’s total 600 hectares are under coffee. Teddy has complemented his passion for coffee farming by surrounding himself with experts. All of this is to ensure that Guadalupe Zaju establishes a name for itself as a producer of high-quality coffee.
In conclusion
Our seasonal espresso blends are made of high quality, speciality-grade coffees from several origins. Flavour, body and acidity profile are well-balanced which make it perfect for straight espresso and milk-based espresso drinks.
Most of our customers pour our seasonal espresso blend, which is designed for broad appeal and to make it easier for baristas to achieve consistent results (extraction) relative to some single-origin coffees.
Enjoy a cup of our seasonal blend at all Origin location or grab a bag for your home or office. Also available online at Cape Coffee Beans.