Episode 437 on Monday the 27th of March, 2017. Guatemala Los Jocotales Natural Yellow Caturra.

This coffee's farm is located in a region that is well known for some of the most interesting coffees, as well as some of the most renowned coffees, in Guatemala, Antigua.

It is produced by Alex Illescas, and he grows it on his grandfather's farm. His grandfather has owned the farm for just over 50 years, working the land and selling the cherry along as a commodity coffee because they have no mill with which to process their own coffee. The farm is located at 1,400 metres above sea level in Ciudad Vieja.

Alex had an idea that he wanted to produce amazing, interesting and challenging coffee for the specialty market. So, with the blessing of his grandfather and with help from his uncle, he used the farm to experiment with varietals and processing methods to see what might improve cup quality. This coffee is the result of those experiments. It's dangerous to do something like this, so the lots are small – but they're large enough that this could have caused financial hardship if something had gone wrong. The lucky thing is that, in the cup, this gamble has really paid off.

When I visited Alex you could see how excited he was, and you could see how proud he was about the coffee. All the time I was there I was praying the coffee would be as good as the story, and I'm pleased to report that it's even better.

In the cup expect a boozy body that's like sherry mixed with cream, a candied lemon and white sugar sweetness that finishes off with blueberry muffin.

• Country: Guatemala
• Region: Antigua
• City: Cuidad Vieja
• Farm: Los Jocotales
• Farmer: Alex Illescas
• Altitude: 1,400 m.a.s.l.
• Variety: Yellow Caturra
• Processing System: Natural

CUPPING NOTES Creamy, sherry, candied lemon, white sugar, blueberry muffin.

Clean Cup: (1-8): 6.5
Sweetness: (1-8): 7
Acidity: (1-8): 6.5
Mouthfeel: (1-8): 6.5
Flavour: (1-8): 7
Aftertaste: (1-8): 7
Balance: (1-8): 6.5
Overall: (1-8): 7
Correction: (+36): +36

Total: (max 100): 89

Roasting Information
Medium Dark - drop just as you reach second crack.

"Quick Look" Guide
Creamy, sherry, candied lemon, white sugar, blueberry muffin.