Luis "Wicho" Valdes
The coffee from Luis "Wicho" Valdés' is a beloved addition to our assortment each year. This year, it is also a part of the launch of our new Farmers series! The cup presents crisp, caramel-like flavours with a hint of green grapes and red apples!
The Santa Isabel farm was acquired by the Valdés family in 1875. Due to unfortunate circumstances, the farm was lost from the family's ownership for many years, until Don Luis Valdés, Wicho's father, repurchased it in 1960. Once again, the farm was back with the Valdés family! Don Luis began planting coffee in 1965, and today, Wicho is responsible for the entire farming operation. Thanks to Wicho's background in agronomy, many farm practices have reduced leaf fungus and the need for fertilisers and pesticides.
The Cobán region receives approximately 3500 mm of rainfall per year, making pruning necessary to avoid fungal diseases. It also results in a prolonged and irregular flowering, causing extra work during harvest. Sometimes, pickers must pass by a coffee tree up to ten times to harvest all the ripe coffee cherries.
After harvesting, the coffee is pulped and placed in tanks for 48 hours of fermentation. It's then washed and soaked in water for an additional 24 hours. The coffee is then dried outdoors for only a few days due to high humidity before being moved to well-ventilated greenhouses. The drying process is carefully monitored to achieve consistent moisture and water activity, all to ensure a stable, high-quality coffee.
We are very proud to present Wicho's coffee - for the ninth consecutive year! We have roasted it with a short and aggressive roast profile to highlight the elegant and caramelly sweetness in the best way. This means we add a lot of heat initially and then lower the temperature. This preserves the acidity and freshness of the coffee while seeking balance and sweetness in the cup.
Origin: Cobán, Guatemala
Producer: Luis "Wicho" Valdés
Farm: Santa Isabel
Altitude: 1600 m
Variety: Caturra
Process: Washed
Flavours: Crispy, caramel-like flavours with a hint of green grapes and red apples
Exceptional coffee starts at the origin. The Farmers series is a tribute to the skilled and dedicated producers which we have a close relationship with. For this series, we purchase limited quantities of specific lots that really stand out when we taste them. It could be the variety or a specific part of the farm that truly brings out the best in the coffee. The flavours of these coffees are often sweet and floral, with hints of fruit or berries, broadening the horizons on what coffee can taste like. It is with a lot of pride we highlight our producers and their incredible craftsmanship through the coffees in the Farmers series.
We have four different coffee series, from House where the flavours are more familiar, to Prime which offers the absolute top tier of specialty coffee quality.
The House series is the foundation we stand upon, featuring specialty coffees from some of the 15 producers we work with closely, all among the best in the world. Each coffee offers a unique blend and flavour profile, and with such variety in the series, we dare say there’s a taste for (almost) everyone. To follow the harvest seasons, we rotate the origin and recipe throughout the year. This ensures the coffee is always fresh, the flavours consistent, and the cup truly delightful! In this series, you’ll find various espresso and filter coffees, both as whole beans and ground.
The Flavours series is where we truly elevate the natural flavours of each coffee. Most of the coffees are single origin, but as the contents of the product change with harvest seasons, occasionally a blend might better suit the flavour profile. Flavours is perfect for those seeking an exceptional cup where the coffee’s unique taste and character truly gets to shine!
The Farmers series is a tribute to the skilled and dedicated producers which we have a close relationship with. For this series, we purchase limited quantities of specific lots that really stand out when we taste them. It could be the variety or a specific part of the farm that truly brings out the best in the coffee. The flavours of these coffees are often sweet and floral, with hints of fruit or berries, broadening the horizons on what coffee can taste like. It is with a lot of pride we highlight our producers and their incredible craftsmanship.
The Prime series is the top tier of specialty coffee. These coffees are of unmatched quality and flavour and drinking them is an experience itself. Sourced only 3-4 times a year, our Prime coffees are extremely limited and highly coveted, with only around 200 bags available of each. These coffees are often of exclusive and rare varieties and produced using modern and innovative methods. For those seeking the ultimate coffee experience, our Prime series is sure to satisfy even the most refined palates.
We specialize in specialty coffee, which means that all the coffee we purchase scores at least 80 points on a 100-point scale – a grading system established by the international coffee organization SCA.
We hold high standards for the producers we work with, both in terms of sustainability and quality. Both aspects demand more and come at a cost, which we gladly pay. The right price is worth every cent!
10 years or more – that's how long we have been working with several of our producers. Simply because they are the best, and we know and trust each other. When we begin new collaborations, which also happens from time to time, we do so with the intention of celebrating 10 years and beyond with them as well. Our close and longstanding relationships are built on a shared philosophy and a desire to improve the conditions for coffee farmers worldwide. Through sustainability and quality!
