We have been working with Welcome Dose from some time, and have always appreciated their professionalism, passion for quality and delicious coffee.
For this week's subscription (W1 August), we are sending out Colombia San Francisco by Welcome Dose to our beloved coffee subscribers. We have received a lot of good feedback on this particular coffee for its cleanness and juiciness.
Welcome Does has also done separate roasts for our filter and espresso subscribers in this case. We hope you enjoy this beautiful coffee.
For those who may have missed out this subscription, you could join our coffee subscription at a frequency of your choice, or purchase this coffee one off.
- Country: Colombia
- Region: Huila
- Varietal: Caturra, Colombia
- Altitude: 1,900 - 2,100m
- Process: Washed
Tasting Note: honey blossom, vanilla florals, pineapple & green apple
The Story:
This lot comes from a group of 6 smallholder producers, led by Gabriel Quilindo, who grow coffee in the community of San Francisco. Located in the municipality of La Plata, in the state of Huila, Colombia the region is found at a staggering elevation of 1,900-2,100m above sea level. San Francisco is a steep, narrow stretch of land that borders the town of Inza, in the state of Cauca, and forms part of the Macizo Colombiano (‘Great Colombian Massif’). Much like that found in these well-known coffee regions, the volcanic soil in San Francisco is perfect for coffee growing. Farmers here also benefit from year-round cool temperatures, abundant access to clean water, and almost exclusively produce coffee from older Caturra trees in plots of land under 2 hectares in size.
The municipality of La Plata has a long history of coffee-growing and agriculture. Along with coffee, the region is known for growing rice, plantain and cacao and for its rich biodiversity. For decades, the centre of town has served as the hub for the local coffee cherry market, as farmers from nearby Inza, Paez and Rio Chiquito (all around 90-minute drives away) would sell their crop here to domestic coffee traders. Recognising the benefits of having a strong presence in town, our friends at Pergamino (our supply partners in Colombia) established a collection point in La Plata and began investing in and training farmers in the municipality and nearby towns.
Today, operations at La Plata are managed by Felipe Henao, whose brother Leonardo is the Head of Quality Control and Logistics at Pergamino. Felipe has spent many years being Pergamino’s “boots on the ground,” giving him the opportunity to learn the intricacies of the different growing regions. By working side-by-side with many producers, Felipe has also been able to establish meaningful, long-term relationships across the Colombian countryside. This experience made him the ideal point person at La Plata, as the role requires him to be in constant communication with Pergamino’s HQ in Medellin, while making complex purchasing decisions and handling logistics on the field.
This is the first time we have sourced coffee from this community, but we are incredibly excited about its potential. The team at Pergamino tell us the region is difficult to reach, as the hills are sharp and the highway that leads to the centre of town becomes practically impossible to traverse during winter. Their efforts pay off on the cupping table though, as this lot consistently shows a unique vibrancy and clarity.
The Process:
This coffee was processed using the washed method at each farm’s ‘micro-beneficio’ (mill). After being pulped using a small manual or electric pulper, coffee is placed into a fermentation tank, where it can spend anywhere between 48 and 72 hours. Because of the cooler climate in San Francisco, contributing producers tend to ferment their coffees for longer than usual, and some will often blend two days’ worth of pickings over the fermentation period. Coffee is then washed using cold, clean water.
Once rinsed, the wet parchment was carefully dried (over 10-18 days) on a raised bed with plastic over the top which protects the coffee from the rain and prevent condensation dripping back onto the drying beans. This bed has adjustable walls to help with air flow, and temperature control to ensure the coffee can dry slowly and evenly.
Once dry, the coffee was delivered to Pergamino’s warehouse, where it was cupped and graded, and then rested in parchment until it was ready for export.
The Roaster:
Welcome Dose is a boutique coffee roaster located in Rosebery, New South Wales. Their coffee is carefully selected with the end-cup in mind, roasted in small batches then tested and tasted before it gets to the retail shelves or the bar. Their bean-to-cup philosophy means providing transparency of the process from green bean sourcing right through to brewing the final product.
Welcome Dose believes in roasting some of the best coffee in Sydney. Their passion for the cup doesn’t stop there. Welcome Dose also does their best to help customers brew beautiful coffee at home.