A Matter of Concrete - /057 COLOMBIA - Arsenio Sandoval - Chiroso
Description
Colombia — Arsenio Sandoval El Mirador Chiroso (Natural)
Tastes Like — 🍬 Sweet • 🌿 Herbal • 🍑 Fruity
DETAILS
- Producer: Arsenio Sandoval
- Farm: El Mirador
- Region: Santa Isabel, Tolima, Colombia
- Varietal: Chiroso
- Process: Natural (Controlled Fermentation + Raised-Bed Drying)
- Altitude: 1,850 MASL
- Size: 240g
INTRO
From Arsenio Sandoval's El Mirador in Santa Isabel — a naturally processed Chiroso from the volcanic highlands of Tolima, produced by a family farm with depth, structure, and the expressive herbal sweetness that makes Chiroso stand out from every other variety. Selectively harvested, carefully fermented, and dried in cherry on raised beds. In the cup: sweet, herbal, and fruity.
THE PRODUCER
Arsenio Sandoval farms El Mirador at 1,850 MASL in Santa Isabel, Tolima — one of Colombia's most compelling and rapidly emerging specialty growing regions. The volcanic soils of the Colombian Andes, the cool mountain climate, and the slow cherry development at this altitude provide the ideal foundation for Chiroso to build the layered fruit character and herbal sweetness that define this lot. This is a family-produced coffee in the truest sense — every stage from harvest to dried parchment managed by Arsenio and his family, with the care and attention that only a single-family operation can sustain.
Chiroso is a variety grown primarily in Antioquia, genetically identified as Ethiopian Landrace. Associated with vibrant tropical fruit and a naturally expressive herbal aromatic profile, it is increasingly cultivated beyond its original Urrao heartland — and in Arsenio's hands at 1,850 MASL in Tolima's volcanic highland conditions, it delivers the depth and expressive complexity that A.M.O.C. look for in everything they roast.
THE PROCESS
The Natural process at El Mirador involves:
🍒 Hand-picking — Chiroso cherries selectively harvested at peak ripeness 🔒 Controlled fermentation — Whole cherries fermented under controlled conditions before drying ☀️ Raised-bed drying — Cherries dried in cherry on raised beds to optimal moisture content
The controlled fermentation and raised-bed drying are the defining steps — by managing fermentation precisely before natural drying, Arsenio builds the layered fruit depth and herbal complexity that define this lot, while the raised-bed drying ensures even, clean results that preserve the natural sweetness and structure throughout.
THE CUP
A sweet, structured, and expressively herbal natural Chiroso from one of Tolima's most dedicated family farms — layered fruit character, natural sweetness, and a herbal complexity that speaks clearly of both the Ethiopian Landrace heritage of the variety and the volcanic highland terroir of El Mirador. Works beautifully as filter; equally compelling as espresso.
Flavour Notes
🍬 Sweet 🌿 Herbal 🍑 Fruity
