Spot Continental NJ

215 | Santa Ana – Pink Bourbon

Producer
Brayan Meneses
Description
Sweet, molasses, grape, floral
Process
Washed, sun-dried
Varietals
Pink Bourbon
Region
Nariño
Elevation
1,960 meters
Position
Spot
Warehouse
Continental, New Jersey
At 33 years of age, Brayan is part of the new generation of coffee growers. He is one of the youngest farmers we work with, but that does not mean he is lacking in knowledge. He learned everything he knows about coffee from his grandfather and has fond memories of going to help in the coffee fields after school.

In addition to his hands-on coffee education, Brayan also completed school as a computer technician and wants to pursue a degree in agronomy. With this higher grade of education, he is able to look at the industry from a different perspective. He saw the need to shift from more traditional coffee harvesting to specialty coffee production about 4 years ago and is using his knowledge to improve quality on every level. Since then, he has participated in several competitions in the region over the last couple of years and has placed in the top 10 every time.

202 | ARANGO DECAF E.A.

Producer
La Miranda Community
Description
Sweet, sugar cane, caramel, chocolate
Process
Washed
Varietals
Castillo, Colombia
Region
Antioquia
Elevation
1,800 to 1,900 meters
Position
Spot
Warehouse
Continental, New Jersey
La Miranda is a small community located in Ituango, Antioquia, Colombia. The region is rich in fertile soils and beautiful landscapes that produce excellent coffee. However, the beauty and the remoteness of the region comes with its own challenges. For the last 40 years, this region has struggled with violence. Massacres, displacements, and extortions have made coffee farming very difficult. We have a lot of respect for people that persist and still grow coffee in these conditions. It’s also amazing to us that farmers can produce the quality of coffees that we are getting under these difficult conditions.
The lots that we selected for the decaffeination process are solid 86+ coffees. We cupped the coffees again after the E.A. decaffeination process and we were very please with the results.
We understand that when people ask for decaf coffee they do it because the flavor not the caffeine. We shouldn’t neglect decaf coffee anymore and we should treat it with respect for people that produce it as well as people that drink it. That is our goal with our decaf program.

 

05 | Los Pinos

Producer
Colombia Portilla
Description
Milk chocolate, honey, caramel, stone fruit
Process
Washed, sun-dried
Varietals
Castillo, Colombia
Region
Nariño
Elevation
1,800 meters
Position
Spot
Warehouse
Continental, New Jersey
Colombia inherited Los Pinos from her parents and raised her 3 children there as well. As a divorced mother, she relied on coffee production to provide for her family entirely. Her children helped on the farm while they were growing up, but now that they are all married with their own families, her brothers Hernan and Guillermo assist her during the harvesting season.

Colombia is still dedicated to her farm and wants to improve her drying installations. She intends to continue coffee production for years to come and is excited about the possibility to work hand in hand with roasters overseas.