LAS MARGARITAS, PACAMARA XO, Cauca - Colombia | COMPETITION COFFEE

This past August, we had the opportunity to travel to the renowned Café Granja La Esperanza in Colombia, a producer well known for its exceptional coffees. During our visit, we participated in a cupping session, sampling sixteen unique coffees, each with its own distinct character. Two, in particular, captivated us with their extraordinary quality and flavour profiles, and we knew we had to share them with our Coffee Gems community.

One of these exceptional finds is the Pacamara XO (Score: 90.7). Grown at the high-altitude Finca Las Margaritas (1640 – 1830 masl), this coffee is nurtured by rich volcanic soil and ideal growing conditions. This coffee undergoes a unique process developed by Café Granja La Esperanza known as XO fermentation.

To start, the Brix levels of the cherries are carefully measured. Then, they are placed into GrainPro bags for approximately 70 hours, with rotations every 5 hours. This meticulous process ensures the cherries are evenly exposed to the fermentation must, ultimately highlighting the coffee's natural acidity and fruity notes.

Following fermentation, the beans are carefully dried in mechanical dryers at a constant 38°C for 8 to 12 days.  Finally, the beans are stored in climate-controlled warehouses, maintaining optimal conditions until they're ready for roasting.  We were so determined to preserve the freshness and quality of this limited-edition coffee that we brought a mini roaster with us to Colombia, allowing us to roast the beans to order for our customers.