Juliana Guevara - Chiroso (Year 2)

La Terraza is a farm project by Juliana Guevara and her husband Wbeimar (WAY-mar) Lasso, where experimentation with varieties and processes is conducted, which serves as a model farm for other producers in the Terra Coffee Association based in Pitalito, Huila, which was also co-founded by the couple.

Yellow Rooster has been working with Terra Coffee since 2021 on various community lots, and is now working on single farm, single variety lots as well, like this exemplary Chiroso from Juliana.

Juliana is new to coffee farming; she came to the world of farms and coffee plantations 16 years ago, during which time she has learned about varieties and processes, as well as developed work with other small coffee farmers. For this particular variety, the coffee is harvested by selected personnel, taking into account the final process. The condition of the harvested beans is checked with each batch before starting the final process. Once the harvest and bean condition are evaluated, they are taken to fermentation in water in plastic barrels, ensuring the absence of oxygen through valves.

This fermentation period lasts for 96 hours. After this process is completed, the coffee is depulped and placed in other plastic containers where it will undergo dry fermentation for 72 hours. Once this is finished, the coffee undergoes a final wash that removes about 70% of the mucilage. It is then left to pre-dry before being taken to the final drying area, where it is dried using solar heat and air currents for about 14 days. After drying, the coffee is evaluated in the laboratory for quality and is stored for 20 days for stabilization before the final evaluation. 

Juliana's approach to fermentation in this lot is a hybrid consistent of stages of anaerobic natural and a semi-washed dry fermentation which is super interesting as you don't get loud anaerobic 'notes' at all, but rather ripe berries and citrus vibes.

You all know we love Chiroso and Juliana's lots of the variety seem to really be some of our favorite representations of the variety year on year.  Big mixed berry vibes with a juicy tartaric acidity hit you up front. As the cup cools a touch, ruby red grapefruit sweetness emerges alongside a wildflower / floral-y honey note.  This cup has sweetness and balance for days while maintaining a super unique and fun complexity.  

Hyped to bring this coffee back for a second year and look forward to many more to come!