Colombia — Oscar Palacio Finca La Soledad Chiroso (Washed)

Tastes Like — 🍒 Cherry • 🍎 Baked Apples • 🍫 Carob

DETAILS

• Producer: Oscar Palacio
• Farm: Finca La Soledad
• Region: Caicedo, Urrao, Antioquia, Colombia
• Varietal: Chiroso
• Process: Washed
• Elevation: 2,000 masl
• Harvest: March 2026

INTRO A great showing for Chiroso and Flower Child's new partnership with Oscar Palacio — his Chiroso is clean, cherry-forward, full-bodied with a medium sweetness. Soft, with a clear dimension of complementary citrus. A great coffee for all preferences and brew styles, especially for those who prefer something less intense on acidity. In the cup: cherry, baked apples, and carob.

THE PRODUCER Oscar grew up in Jardín, Antioquia, where coffee was always part of his family's life — his father, an experienced grower, taught him the fundamentals of the craft. Years later, Oscar moved to Caicedo, at the top of Urrao's region, where he established Finca La Soledad and began cultivating Chiroso. The farm spans 5 hectares with 5,000 Chiroso trees, and Oscar works alongside his brother, who also farms in the region, sharing knowledge and labour.

Chiroso has recently impressed and excited the world of coffee, landing at the top of Cup of Excellence and among Flower Child's own top-scoring varieties. It's been identified as an Ethiopian Landrace, though little else is known about how it came to be cultivated in Urrao — still fairly difficult to acquire, making a coffee at this level a rare treat.

THE PROCESS Oscar's process begins with selective harvesting of ripe cherries, placed in sealed bags for three days of fermentation. After depulping, the coffee returns to bags for another three days before washing and drying in a marquesina for 10-14 days, depending on the weather.

The double three-day bag fermentation — before and after depulping — is the defining step. It's what builds the clean, cherry-forward character and medium sweetness that define this cup, without pushing the acidity too intense.

THE CUP Clean and cherry-forward — full-bodied with a medium sweetness, soft in profile with a clear dimension of complementary citrus. Baked apple and carob round out the finish. Versatile across filter, immersion, and espresso.

Flavour Notes 🍒 Cherry 🍎 Baked Apples 🍫 Carob