Colombia Canta Ranas

This 100% Chiroso microlot was produced by Edward Sandoval on his farm, Canta Ranas, which sits on the foothills of the Los Nevados active volcano and national park, close to the small town of Santa Isabel in the north of the Colombian state of Tolima. Canta Ranas means ‘singing frogs’ in Spanish. The natural spring which serves as a water source for the farm is also home to a family of noisy amphibians, who become particularly active when it rains. Edward named the farm in honour of these frogs!

The coffee was pulped using a small pulper and then placed into a fermentation tank, where it was fermented for up to six days. Observant and meticulous, Edward tailors the number of fermentation hours for each variety he grows, as he has learned which benefit from the increased fruity and winey flavour profile, without losing complexity or inherent taste. The resulting parchment was then washed using clean water from nearby rivers and streams.

Once washed, the coffee was carefully dried (for up to 15 days) on parabolic beds, which are constructed a bit like a ‘hoop house’ greenhouse, and act to protect the coffee from the rain and prevent condensation dripping back onto the drying beans. The greenhouse is constructed out of plastic sheets and have adjustable walls to help with airflow, and temperature control to ensure the coffee can dry slowly and evenly.

This coffee is everything that we sought after when we think about a washed Colombian. Lots of juicy apples and currants up front, with a high sweetness reminiscent of toffee, and finishes off with a smooth red tea note.