Superlative Coffee Roasters
Colombia Finca La Palma Santa Barbara Estate
Single Origin | Omni roast
Region: Antioquia
Varietal: SL28
Process: Honey Processed
Altitude: 1800 Metres
Tasting notes: Pineapple, Plum, Brown Sugar.
La Palma, part of Santa Barbara Estate, is a family-owned company dedicated to the production and export of Colombian estate coffee.Pedro Echavarría has curated incredible farms for the estate with La Palma being one, and we’re proud of the relationship we’ve built with them over the last handful of years.
They started naturally fermenting 100% of the farm’s productivity five years ago and mechanically demucilaged everything before that. They are constantly experimenting with different processes, but a two-day fermentation and mixing coffees from two different days of picking has become the standard for the farm and entire operation.
This specific lot, however, was an experiment that fermented for 3-4 days and mixed 3-4 different days of picking into the same tanks. This means some coffee ferments for 4 days, some for 3 days, and so on. Under normal conditions, that would result in sour or over-the-top fruity profiles, but because they’re able to control the process, the mixed-day fermentation creates complex lactic & malic organic acids, giving the coffee more complexity, depth and sweetness. Microlots are then dried on raised beds under shade at the neighboring farm, Lomaverde.
Pedro started this experiment in 2014 with just 1500lbs and has grown every year due feedback from us and our customers. We buy the entire experimental lot every single year, which maxed out at 4,500lbs in 2018. We’re excited to share that after it’s continuing success, Pedro and Ricardo (the new manager at La Palma) have decided to increase the experimental processing to the whole farm's production with Deeper Roots still having exclusive access to this coffee in the U.S.. It’s encouraging to see a farm increasing their quality, productivity, and income opportunities with creativity and innovation while including feedback from the buyers & roasters and you, the consumers.