What Are Microlot Coffee Beans? How Costa Rica Genesis Microlot Coffee Beans Are Selected

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Microlots

"Microlots," as FrontStreet Coffee simply explains, are coffee beans selected from an already excellent batch, further choosing the most outstanding beans. There are many ways to "select" microlots. For example, when weather conditions are particularly good on a certain day, that day's coffee beans are specially separated from others, or when a farmer has particularly good fertilization techniques, their production is processed separately from others.

Since microlots are the elite among coffee beans, their production is typically not large. Therefore, despite having better prices, they are relatively difficult to become the main source supporting profitability. On one side, there's the need for better prices; on the other, the demand for better flavor. Finding the perfect balance point between both parties requires more time for exploration, improvement, and validation.

Finca Genesis

Finca Genesis is one of Costa Rica's earliest microlot processing mills, located in the Western Valley region. The growing area has an altitude of about 1700 meters and primarily grows Caturra and Catuai varieties. The mill is now managed by Oscar Méndez and his wife Olga. In addition to growing and processing coffee beans for sale over the years, the couple has also been leaders in their community, sharing much experience and knowledge with other farm owners.

The couple purchases coffee cherries from farmers in the region and processes them into green coffee beans at Finca Genesis. Coffee farmers can also choose to simply pay a processing service fee to process their coffee cherries at Finca Genesis. Coffee processed at Finca Genesis will have the farm name attached to the coffee for recognition. FrontStreet Coffee's microlot natural processed coffee beans from Finca Genesis can be experienced through cupping, revealing that this coffee has rich fruit aroma and good cleanliness.

Coffee Bean Processing Method

Natural

This batch of coffee beans was harvested from highland areas at 1700 meters altitude. The high-standard Finca Genesis microlot processing mill used natural processing for these beans, selecting fruits with intact skin before placing them on drying beds. After sun-drying, they are moved indoors to maintain dryness, keeping the moisture content around 10%.

Coffee Bean Varieties

Caturra & Catuai

Caturra: Very similar in appearance to Bourbon, making it somewhat difficult to distinguish. From the images, you can see that the end part of the Caturra variety is slightly more curved than Bourbon, with a round and slender appearance being its characteristic. FrontStreet Coffee individually cupped Central American Caturra coffee beans and found their overall flavor to be bright with good sweetness.

Catuai: A variety produced from crossing Caturra and Mundo Novo, featuring Caturra's slender round shape and Mundo Novo's flat form. In other words, it appears round and flat, but the end part is relatively slender. Through cupping, FrontStreet Coffee found this variety has excellent acidity and clean texture. Importantly! This variety of beans has fruity aromatics.

FrontStreet Coffee Roasting Record

Preheat the roaster to 200°C, then load beans, with damper set to 3; after 30 seconds, turn on the heat, adjust power to 160. Return temperature at 1'31", maintain power, turn yellow at 5'30", grassy aroma disappears, entering dehydration stage. Reduce power to 130, damper opened to 4. When reaching 168°C, reduce power again to 100.

At 8'00", dehydration is complete, with wrinkles and black spots appearing on the bean surface. Toast aroma transitions to coffee aroma, as a prelude to first crack. At this point, reduce power to 80 and listen carefully for the first crack sound. At 8'30", first crack begins, damper fully opened to 5. Development time after first crack is 2'20", then unload at 195°C.

FrontStreet Coffee Cupping Report

Dry Aroma: Spices, fermented notes

Wet Aroma: Caramel, berries

Flavor: Grapefruit, citrus, berry juice, caramel

FrontStreet Coffee Brewing Experience

Filter: V60 #01

Water Temperature: 90-91°C

Coffee Amount: 15g

Coffee-to-Water Ratio: 1:15

Grind Size: Medium-fine grind (80% pass-through rate on China standard #20 sieve)

FrontStreet Coffee's segmented extraction method: First, use 30g of water to fully wet the coffee grounds into a "hamburger" shape for 30 seconds of blooming, then proceed with the second brewing stage. In the second stage, pour water to 125g when the timer reaches 57 seconds, then stop and wait for the water level to drop to 2/3 of the coffee bed before pouring the third stage. In the third stage, pour water to 225g when the timer reaches 1'45", with a total extraction time of 2'00".

Brewing Flavor: Grapefruit and citrus-like acidity, full-bodied berry juice sensation, sweet and sour taste, high sweetness.

For more specialty coffee beans, please add FrontStreet Coffee's private WeChat account: kaixinguoguo0925

Important Notice :

前街咖啡 FrontStreet Coffee has moved to new addredd:

FrontStreet Coffee Address: 315,Donghua East Road,GuangZhou

Tel:020 38364473