Manos Juntas - Colombia

SWEET & SMOOTH
Red Plum, Orange Blossom, & Dulce de Leche

PRODUCERS: Multiple Farmers
REGION: Sotara, Popayan, Cauca
PROCESS: Cherry-Dried Anaerobic
VARIETY: Castillo

Manos Juntas is sweet and smooth, with complex fruit flavors and a silky body. The first sip is full of stone fruit notes, landing between red plum and apricot, with hints of tropical fruit. A delicate citrus note compliments the profile, reminiscent of orange blossoms. As the cup cools, the tartness becomes more pronounced, shifting the tannins of the plum notes closer to cranberry. Throughout, a silky creaminess evolves from vanilla custard into a subtle dulce de leche.

Manos Juntas is a micromill operated by Banexport in the village of Sotará, south of Popayán. Here, producers are paid upfront for their coffee cherries, compared to the typical 30 to 40 day wait for dried coffee.

This coffee was first processed with a five day anaerobic fermentation, with each producer’s lot placed in its own tank. From the moment they received the cherries and throughout this phase, Banexport kept careful measurements of the sugar content and pH to ensure consistent quality. The coffee was then  temperature-shocked to halt fermentation and aged for an additional five days. Finally, it went through a slow-drying period of 30 to 45 days in solar dryers.