Costa Rica Natural Process Tank Estate La Vicha Coffee Beans: Grading, Price, Green Beans and Roast Level

Natural Processing Method

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The natural processing process is quite labor-intensive. Hand-picked high-sugar cherries must first be placed on African raised beds to sun-dry for about 10 days, then moved to greenhouses covered with plastic sheets to create more direct thermal energy for continuous drying until the moisture content reaches 11.5%. This slow drying process allows the green beans to develop more natural sweetness from within, but it also requires more careful attention and precise calculation of turning frequency. By the time the bright red cherries turn black and emit aromas of fruit cake, caramel, and even sherry wine, the process is successfully completed.

Flavor Profile

Flavor: Lemon, caramel, nuts

Body: Excellent sweetness, gentle fruit acidity, round and full, persistent aftertaste

Product Information

Manufacturer: Coffee Workshop
Address: No. 10 Bao'an Front Street, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou
Contact: 020-38364473
Ingredients: In-house roasted coffee
Shelf Life: 90 days
Net Weight: 227g
Packaging: Bulk coffee beans
Roast Level: Medium roast
Sugar Content: Sugar-free
Origin: Costa Rica
Roast Degree: Medium roast

Villasarchi Variety

Villasarchi is a Typica variety that originated in Costa Rica. Like Typica, it has a 60-degree angle between branches and trunk, with bronze-colored leaves. This variety grows particularly well at high altitudes and has strong wind resistance. It can also grow in poor soil conditions, though it thrives better under shade trees. The most prominent characteristic in its flavor profile is its excellent sweetness and pleasant acidity.

Coffee Details

Origin: Costa Rica West Valley Monte Solis EI Tanque Villa Sarhi Natural

Brewing Method: Pour-over Villasarchi. Use 15g of coffee, medium grind (Fujiyama ghost tooth grinder #4), V60 dripper, water temperature 88-89°C. First pour 30g of water for 27 seconds bloom, then pour to 105g and pause. Wait until the water level drops to half before continuing to pour slowly until reaching 225g total. Avoid the tail section. Water-to-coffee ratio 1:15, extraction time 2:00.

Country: Costa Rica
Grade: SHB
Region: Central Valley
Roast Level: Medium roast
Processing Method: Natural process
Variety: Villasarchi
Estate: EI Tanque Estate
Flavor: Lemon, caramel, nuts

Costa Rican Coffee Quality

Costa Rica's premium coffee beans are known as "Strictly Hard Bean" (SHB), followed by Hard Bean (HB) and Semi-Hard Bean (SH) in descending quality, which also serves as their grading system. SHB grows at altitudes above 1500 meters, and altitude has always represented coffee quality—higher altitude means better quality. Additionally, the altitude difference creates abundant rainfall, which is very beneficial for coffee tree growth. Moreover, the low temperatures at high altitudes at night slow down tree growth, allowing coffee cherries to absorb more nutrients, resulting in richer coffee flavors.

Its three most famous growing regions are Tarrazú, located south of Costa Rica's capital San José, as well as the Central Valley and Western Valley regions. Natural processing is a very traditional method that uses minimal resources, but due to too many uncontrollable factors, doing it well is extremely difficult. Francesca added many innovations, such as using a Brix meter commonly equipped in the wine industry to measure the fruit's sugar content, determining the optimal harvest time and processing method based on Brix sugar content. Only cherries with sugar content exceeding 20% are selected for natural processing. Typical Brix values for fruits are: apples at 14, lemons at 12, passion fruit at 18, but La Hacas coffee cherries can reach 21-22%. La Hacas not only produces natural and honey-processed coffees but also washed coffees. The farm grows varieties including Caturra, Catuai, Villa Sarchi, and has also introduced small amounts of Kenyan varieties such as SL28, Obata, and others.

Important Notice :

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FrontStreet Coffee Address: 315,Donghua East Road,GuangZhou

Tel:020 38364473