Autumn Equinox Seasonal Blend

By September we're longing for those warm autumn days/cool nights that make us want to pick apples, crunch through some leaves, and eat toasty s'mores next to a crackling campfire. Cue Autumn Equinox! 

This year's blend is seriously something special as we sourced each component specifically for Autumn Equinox: 50% Santa Ana - Balam (El Salvador), 30% Masha - Kayanza (Burundi), and 20% Rody Medina - Finca Agua Fria (Honduras).

50% Santa Ana - Balam — Washed (El Salvador):

• Country: El Salvador
• Region: Santa Ana
• Producers: Smallholder Farmers
• Alt: 1200-1600 MASL
• Varietal: Bourbon, Caturra, Pacas, Pacamara
• Process: Washed

In the Indigenous Maya language, Balam means “jaguar.” This El Salvadorian coffee is the result of years of working closely with coffee growers in El Salvador to produce an elevated, repeatable, and classic washed El Salvadorian profile.

The resulting coffees included under the mark “Balam” come from farmers in El Salvador who are paid a premium for quality. The coffees are milled to specific requirements for the importer (Cafe Imports) that make these coffees a step above other standard El Salvadorian coffees.

30% Masha - Kayanza — Washed (Burundi):

• Country: Burundi
• Region: Gatara, Kayanza
• Farm: Masha
• Alt: 1672 MASL
• Varietal: Bourbon
• Process: Washed

The Masha washing station in Kayanza, Burundi accepts coffee from over 3200 local farmers. Each producer has on average only 297 trees on roughly 11 hectares of land. These smallholder farmers are reliant upon coffee for their livelihood. 

Harvest here is typically April through June, but the coffees have a long journey from the time they are picked to the time they are exported because the country is landlocked.  

Coffee is processed at the BUDECA, SIVCA dry mill prior to export. 

From the export partner: The Masha coffee washing station shares its name with the sub-hill upon which it stands and is actually more famous for its cattle than its coffee (the sub-hill that is). The name Masha is derived from the Kirundi word “amasho” meaning “herds of cattle." The sub-hill has been a cross road for many herds in the region—70% of the local herders own cows. 

Apart from cows and coffee, the hill on which the station is found, Gihororo, is named after the imihororo trees from which the locals weave traditional clothing making this region truly abundant in precious resources to its people. The station did experience its fair share of difficulties, especially when the country was in a period of turmoil. In 1997, the storage facility and main house at the station was burnt down by rebels during the political conflict in Burundi.

20% Rody Medina - Finca Agua Fria — Natural (Honduras):

• Country: Honduras
• Region: Montecillos, La Paz 
• Producer: Rody Medina
• Alt: 1742 MASL
• Varietal: IHCAFE 90
• Process: Natural

Rody Medina owns Finca Agua Fria, located in a community of the same name in the La Paz department of Honduras. He carries on his father's legacy and teachings throughout the farm.

Rody's interest in coffee began as a child helping his father with his work around the farm. This taught him respect for both the coffee industry and traditional cultivation methods. In time, his father inherited land for him, and he began to dedicate himself to growing coffee and pursuing the trade full-time.

Finca Agua Fria grows IHCAFE 90, a disease-resistant variety with high yields and balanced flavor. Rody uses Natural processing leaving the coffee to dry in the cherry, resulting in rich, ripe-fruit flavor and intense sweetness. He prefers Natural processing because it avoids excessive use of water and is better for the environment.

In the Cup: Baked Apples, Warming Spices, Cocoa, Dark Fruits, Cola, Balanced 

Unsure what Grind to choose? Here's how to decide. 

**All local pick up orders will remain available for 30 days.  After 30 days they will be donated to a local charity due to storage space.**