Kaito Coffee Roasters: Guatemala, Finca la Bolsa Nacimiento
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Rating: 8.8/10 Roast: Medium Body: Smooth, rounded Acidity: Bright, citrusy Notes: Maple syrup, clementine Aroma: Winey, vanilla |
Coffee at Kaito begins with color.
" The world of coffee is big, and complex and beautiful. It spreads far and wide. There’s so much to learn, so much to explore, so much to marvel at, so much to taste and try.
Although our coffee selection changes with seasons and harvests, we offer consistency by thoughtfully curating our coffees into three collections, based on their inherent* unique tastes. Our collections are sure to appeal to coffee novices and connoisseurs alike. They serve as your initial guide to help you choose a coffee you are in the mood for."
- Holly & Paul, Kaito Coffee
Although our coffee selection changes with seasons and harvests, we offer consistency by thoughtfully curating our coffees into three collections, based on their inherent* unique tastes. Our collections are sure to appeal to coffee novices and connoisseurs alike. They serve as your initial guide to help you choose a coffee you are in the mood for."
- Holly & Paul, Kaito Coffee
A landscape of the Guatemala-Mexico border. PC: Wikimedia Commons
Kaito's Finca la Bolsa Naciemiento (Guatemala) is a yellow coffee, one "perfect for people looking for coffees with brighter acidity and varying mouthfeels, with flavour notes in the fruit, dessert, flower, and subtle herb categories." This coffee certainly fits the bill, with a lemon citrus acidity and notes of caramel, clementine, and a smooth, winey body.
Finca la Bolsa Nacimiento lies in Guatemala's Huehuetango Department, dominated by western highlands that the nation shares with neighboring Mexico. Coffee farms are plentiful on the warmer, lower slopes of Huehuetenango's densely forested mountains, thriving around 1500 meters above sea level.
Finca la Bolsa Nacimiento lies in Guatemala's Huehuetango Department, dominated by western highlands that the nation shares with neighboring Mexico. Coffee farms are plentiful on the warmer, lower slopes of Huehuetenango's densely forested mountains, thriving around 1500 meters above sea level.
Coffee trees at Finca la Bolsa. PC: Victrola Coffee Roasters
Dr. Jorge Vides, a Huehuetenagoan doctor of 30 years, purchased Finca la Bolsa in 1956. The hundred-hectare farm is nestled between two mountains; a farmhouse, a school, the drying patios, and the mill, all sit on a small island formed by two rivers that flow through the property. Dr. Vides' daughter and successor, María Elena Vides de Ovalle y Condueñas, manages the farm currently. The farm's staff take pride in their C.A.F.E. and Rainforest Alliance Certifications; la Bolsa was also the runner up in Guatemala's 2002 Cup of Excellence competition, receiving a rating of 94.98. Since then, the farm has built a school on its property for local children, as well as a hydroelectric plant that utilizes the property's two streams. The farm also donates natural spring water to the village of La Mesilla, between Huehuetenago city and the Mexican city of Comitán. Though Finca la Bolsa has not made it into the Guatemala Cup of Excellence standings since 2002, it has been doing phenomenal work in the Huehuetenango community for decades.
Now on to the coffee's cupping notes. The cup had a bright, limey citrus acidity that was increasingly conspicuous in filter brew methods. It had a smooth, rounded body, with notes of maple syrup or caramel. The combination of sweetness and acidity built continuous flavors of clementine, or candied lemon in the cup. I particularly enjoyed this coffee in Aeropress, with a slightly longer steeping time than usual, about 1:50 rather than 1:45, to really bring out the citrus and body. You'll also notice a sweet, winey aroma, hinted by subtle spice notes, vanilla, cinnamon. Kaito's Finca la Bolsa Nacimiento reminded me of a coffee from the Roasting Shed that I enjoyed a few months back: Alto Redondo, Colombia. The bright, citrusy acidity, and notes of caramel and spice were quite a throwback. Kaito's Guatemala maintains the sweet, caramel flow throughout, and ends with a clean finish.
Kaito labels their Guatemala Finca la Bolsa as a yellow coffee, 'a vibrant and dynamic taste experience,' and this coffee certainly packs a punch. I also tried Kaito's Ethiopia Kochere, a red, and thoroughly enjoyed it. Smooth, syrupy, notes of peach and hibiscus. Thanks so much to Holly and Paul for letting me in on the great work they're doing in Quebec; I can't wait to see what's next up in their line of yellow coffees. Definitely give their site a look, and while you're at it, fold yourself a Wazo to accompany your next brew.
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