A highly drinkable Mexico Veracruz from producer Alejandro Martinez. This is a single-lot washed coffee from Martinez’s farm in Coatepec, a centrally located region in the state of Veracruz. This selection is an isolated harvest of the varietal Anacafe 14, known to be a high-yielding, resistant to leaf rust and produces coffees of great quality at high altitude. It is a cross between Catimor and Pacamara, and boasts a creamy body in the cup with intense sweet notes of chocolate, red fruit and citrus.

The careful processing and harvesting practices established on Alejandro’s farm ensures his coffee is up to standards. Cherries are picked for ripeness, and undergo an 18-hour fermentation process. The next day the beans are washed, depulped and laid out to dry in the sun. Drying occurs over 32 days on a rooftop structure.

This coffee bean is large and roasts beautifully to a light-medium finish. We like it primarily for batch brew, but it makes a great blender for espresso with a thicker, dense coffee like Sumatra. This coffee was referred to us as “a worker bee’s cup, with no frills, just a clean delicious coffee.” We agree.

**With thanks to Mill City Roasters for data and information.