Proyecto Aurora — Guatemala / Washed Process

Origin

The Proyecto Aurora is an innovation created by our exporting partner in Guatemala, Los Volcanes Coffee. Los Volcanes owns and operates a wet mill in the Antigua region, called Beneficio La Esperanza. Many of the employees of this wet mill own their own small coffee estates, that have been passed down through generations of their families. Each year, Los Volcanes commits to buy their entire harvests, guaranteeing their employees financial security. But the project only begins here, as the lots are kept separated so that each producer can pay special attention to their own coffee.

Project

Normally, producers deliver coffee to the wet mill, where the processing, drying, cupping, and grading will be handled by mill employees. This is what makes Proyecto Aurora such a special project, as these producers are not only handling the production of their coffee at the wet mill and drying stage, but are also involved in the quality control and cupping of their coffees. They will know the resultant coffee well, as they have been involved in every step of its production.

Coffee

The resultant flavour profile is both familiar and surprising at the same time. The usual notes of stone fruits are immediately apparent, and are paired with pleasant nougat and dark chocolate sweetness. But the coffee is exceptionally bright at the same time, with strong notes of red apple, giving a juicy acidity that leads to a clean, almond finish, and a coffee that is unique in flavour as well as its backstory.