Colombia - Nariño Aponte Honey
Honey Processed, Reserve Coffee, Small Holder Farms
Honeysuckle, Stone Fruit, Sweet, Mellow
This is a very special Reserve Coffee from a group of Smallholder Farmers in the high mountains (over 7,000 ft.) of Nariño.
Colombia’s three ranges of Andean mountains converge in Nariño, presenting ideal altitudes and fertile soil for high grown Arabica production.
Thanks to the fearless spirit of the Nariño farmers, this small region has become a respected nucleus of coffee innovation.
This outstanding coffee is the result of their labor and I am very excited to offer this Nariño Aponte Honey coffee.
General Flavor Observations
Colombia - Nariño Aponte Honey
The majority of Colombia’s coffee is washed, but recently there has been more experimentation with alternative processing methods.
This coffee was de-pulped and dried with mucilage still on the coffee seed.
By drying the seed this way, sweetness is dramatically increased and fruity flavors are more prominent and complex.
This represents the honey processing style.
This Reserve Colombia coffee is wonderfully sweet, with a round, soft mouth-feel and mellow acidity.
With the first sip, notes of honeysuckle are present giving way to well centered notes of caramel and milk chocolate.
Then the excitement begins!
The Honey process reveals a sweetness in the form of stone fruit undertones that range from apple and cherry, to tangerine and mango, depending on the roast level.
A remarkable coffee that should not be missed, we present you: Colombia Narino Aponte Reserva Honey!
Roast Level Profile Notes
Colombia - Nariño Aponte Honey
The sweet, fruity complexity, round body, and soft acidity of this wonderful Colombian coffee, will be best realized at a
Full City roast.
However, each roast level will provide unique differences to the profile, so don't hesitate to experiment.
We are always happy to accommodate any roast level you prefer.
The notes below illustrate how changing the roast will alter the profile:
City Roast (light roast)
Looking for a brighter cup with plenty of complexity and a fruit forward profile, then our City roast is a great choice.
As with most City roasts, you will find a milder body and snappier acidity. Notes of sweet mango or perhaps tangerine, cocoa nibs, and honey in the cup. A very nice choice.
Full City Roast (medium roast) - Preferred
I found Full City to be the best balance all around, presenting a mellow, smooth cup with notes of milk chocolate and caramel.
The sweetness of honeysuckle comes to mind as the profile peaks into notes of red apple or perhaps mango.
The finish is soft and rolling with a pleasant, lingering aftertaste of stone fruit.
Full City (+) Roast
This roast level will focus the deeper fruit tones and provide a more 'juicy' cup.
The mouth-feel will be more silky; the body, more full; the finish will be smooth and taper quickly. The sweetness remains due to the honey process, with fruit tones becoming more akin to dark cherry or perhaps red apple.
Vienna Roast
This roast has that solid dark roast quality represented by bittersweet chocolate and toffee, yet remains quite smooth.
The sweet fruit tones remain but are a bit more muted.
This would be a good roast profile to choose if paring with a sweet dessert or following a rich meal.
French Roast
Not recommended.
Additional Information
Colombia - Nariño Aponte Honey
The indigenous Inga people are descendants of the northernmost Inca tribesman.
The Inga speak a dialect of the Kichwa language native to southern Colombia, Ecuador, and parts of Peru.
The land is held communally and governed by a group of elders known as the cabildo.
In recent history the Inga have experienced financial hardship and violence as a result of the prominence of illicit activities in the region.
Coffee farming provides an alternative to lucrative but illegal coca farming. After the peace accord with FARC in 2016, the Colombian government began to offer subsidies to farmers that would switch from Coca to Coffee.
The Caturra variety has been planted in the Inga territory, on smallholder properties in the Resguardo Inga Aponte, at an average of 7,054 feet above sea level.
This elevation, combined with the Galeras Volcano constantly shedding nutrient-rich ash, makes for an exceptionally complex and sweet coffee.
- Origin: Colombia
- Region: Nariño
- Producer: Aponte Community
- Traceable: Smallholder Farms
- Processing: Honey
- Elevation: 7,054 feet
- Varietal: Caturra
