Peru — David Flores El Cacao Farm Yellow Caturra (Washed)

Tastes Like — 🍓 Raspberry • 🌼 Daisy • 🌿 Cardamom

DETAILS

• Producer: David Flores
• Farm: El Cacao
• Region: North Cajamarca, Peru
• Varietal: Yellow Caturra
• Process: Washed
• Roast: Espresso (Special Showcase Release)

INTRO

A special showcase release — the El Morito Yellow Caturra from David Flores's El Cacao farm, roasted specifically for espresso. Out of pure curiosity, Apollon's Gold applied an espresso-specific roast profile to this lot and the result was absolutely marvelous — unlocking a completely different dimension from the filter version. In the cup: raspberry, daisy, and cardamom.

THE PRODUCER

David Flores farms El Cacao in North Cajamarca — part of the El Morito cooperative, a family farm network in the cloud forest highlands of Callayuc whose members have built a growing reputation for clean, expressive washed Caturra lots at altitude. David is the nephew of Felipe Estela, another El Morito producer, and manages El Cacao with the same meticulous approach to cultivation and post-harvest processing that defines the cooperative's collective output.

Yellow Caturra — a natural colour mutation of the Bourbon-derived Caturra first identified in Brazil — has been a reliable and well-regarded presence in Peruvian highland growing regions for decades. At altitude in North Cajamarca's cloud forest environment, and under the careful washed processing of El Morito's producers, it consistently delivers clean, structured cups that respond in unexpected and compelling ways to roast profile experimentation.

THE PROCESS

The Washed process at El Cacao involves:

🍒 Hand-picking — Yellow Caturra cherries carefully hand-picked at peak ripeness 🔧 Depulping — Outer skin removed before fermentation 🧪 Fermentation — Beans fermented to break down remaining mucilage 💧 Washing — Thoroughly washed with clean water after fermentation ☀️ Sun drying — Dried under the sun to optimal moisture content

The meticulous washed processing is the defining step — stripping back all fruit influence to allow the Yellow Caturra's inherent raspberry brightness, daisy florality, and cardamom spice character to express themselves with the clarity and structure that the espresso roast profile then amplifies beautifully.

THE CUP

A marvelous discovery — the El Morito Yellow Caturra from David Flores's El Cacao farm, roasted for espresso and revealing a completely different and compelling dimension from its filter expression. Raspberry brightness, daisy florality, and a distinctive cardamom warmth in a clean, well-structured espresso that rewards the curiosity behind this special showcase release.

Flavour Notes

🍓 Raspberry 🌼 Daisy 🌿 Cardamom