Details:

• Origin: Ecuador, Pichincha

• Producer: Mario Hervas — Finca Meridiano

• Varietal: Typica Mejorado

• Process: Double Washed: in‑cherry fermentation 24–30 hrs, depulped with some mucilage, then underwater fermented 36–40 hrs, washed and dried on raised beds 18–22 days

• Bag Size: 125g

• Roast: Filter

• Tasting Notes: Cantaloupe 🍈 • Sugarcane 🌾 • Marigold 🌼

Intro:

Shoebox is excited to present Ecuador Mario Hervas Mejorado Washed, a beautifully refined coffee from the cloud‑rich slopes of Pichincha, Ecuador. Carefully washed and fermented, this coffee highlights both the sweetness and floral complexity of the unique Mejorado cultivar — delivering a bright, expressive, and layered filter cup that evolves with every sip.

The Producer:

This coffee comes from Mario Hervas, the passionate owner of Finca El Meridiano — a farm known for meticulous agronomy and varietal experimentation in Ecuador’s highlands. Mario’s work has gained respect for consistently high‑quality output, thanks to his breeding and selection of the Mejorado cultivar, originally developed from a cross involving Bourbon and Ethiopian landrace genetics. His dedicated approach has led to strong, healthy trees well adapted to the farm’s elevation and microclimate, yielding consistently expressive coffee year after year.

The Process:

This lot is processed using a double washed method that brings clarity and sweetness into sharp focus. After careful hand‑picking, cherries undergo an extended in‑cherry fermentation (24–30 hrs) before being depulped with some mucilage still present. A secondary underwater fermentation (36–40 hrs) enhances structural complexity. Following this, the beans are thoroughly washed and dried on raised beds for around 18–22 days, producing a clean, nuanced cup with layered fruit and floral character.

The Cup:

In the cup, this Ecuadorian lot offers a vibrant and nuanced profile. Bright cantaloupe 🍈 sweetness opens the cup, followed by clean sugarcane 🌾 tones that give a refreshing, juiciness to the mid‑palate. Delicate marigold 🌼 aromatics linger on the finish, adding floral elegance and length. The overall balance of fruit, sweetness, and floral lift makes this coffee especially rewarding when brewed as a filter, but unctuous with rounded acidity in a modern espresso.

Overall:

Shoebox’s Ecuador Mario Hervas Mejorado Washed is a standout example of what careful varietal selection and thoughtful processing can achieve. With its lively fruit character, crisp sweetness, and floral complexity, this filter coffee offers a refined and memorable experience — perfect for drinkers who appreciate both clarity and depth in their cup.

What is the Roast Recency?

We recommend brewing with beans that are at least two weeks off roast. All beans are roasted to peak flavour at around 6-12 weeks. We have the option to either purchase standard beans (at least 2 weeks but no longer than 6 weeks off roast), or rested beans (at least 7 weeks off roast, no longer than 12 - should we have any left in stock!). For peak flavour, if you are looking to use immediately, we recommend purchasing the rested beans. If you are adding to your rotation of beans, we recommend purchasing the standard and allowing the beans to naturally rest and mature whilst you rotate through other beans.