Venezuela Santa Cruz de Mora, Merida - Speciality coffee - 250g, FILTR

Venezuela Santa Cruz de Mora, Merida, scr 18 

Venezuelan coffee is renowned for its rich and distinctive flavour, shaped by the country's diverse climate and fertile soil. Coffee is grown primarily in areas such as the Andes and coastal mountains, and has a long tradition of cultivation dating back to the 18th century. Coffee beans from these high-altitude regions benefit from ideal conditions that enhance their finesse and complexity. Venezuelan coffee is known for its balanced flavour, with hints of chocolate, nuts and a subtle acidity, and has historically been a favourite in both the domestic and international markets.

Although the Venezuelan coffee industry has faced challenges in recent decades, when due to the embargo on coffee exports, most of the industry focused on oil, coffee plantations were dying and the quality of the coffee was rapidly declining, we managed to establish cooperation 5 years ago, thanks to sports (specifically football), with a local company that wanted to start restoring the quality of the coffee and gradually work on an export license.

During these five years, we have worked together on better and better quality. Thanks to feedback and great relationships, technology was gradually purchased, farmers were trained, and the result is the first container of coffee, which we can now officially present to you in September 2024.

This particular coffee comes from the state of Merida from a processing station in the town of Santa Cruz de Mora, where dozens of small farmers deliver their coffee harvests. Venezuela is a very hilly country, and therefore all harvesting is done manually with an emphasis on collecting only ripe coffee cherries. The process begins with floating, where any unripe cherries and low-density objects such as twigs and leaves are separated. After subsequent peeling, the cherries travel to a fermentation tank, where they are fermented for 18 hours in order to remove residual pulp from the parchment. Finally, before bagging, they are sorted by size.

Many smallholder farmers in the country continue to favor organic and traditional farming practices, ensuring that coffee retains its unique profile. Despite economic difficulties, efforts are being made to revive this once-thriving industry, as coffee remains an integral part of Venezuelan culture and economy.

Processing: Washed

Country of Origin: Venezuela

Region: Merida

Processing Station: Santa Cruz de Mora

Farmer: Smallholder farmers supplying the processing station

Altitude: 1200-1650 m.a.s.l.

Variety: Caturra, Catuai Amarillo

Cupping Score: 85.5

Acidity: 2/5

Aroma: 4/5

Body: 4/5