Often referred to as ‘Coffee and Community’, the Aquiares Estate in Turrialba, Costa Rica is a testament to the visionary and transformative approach of producer Alfonso Robelo. Nearly a century after it’s founding, Alfonso has turned the page on a farm that suffered from low prices and instability, beginning a new chapter of fruitfulness. His focus was not only on the way he produced coffee, but how he could care for the people that make the production possible. He evolved the farm into a small town where workers were given the opportunity to purchase their own properties and today over 1800 people call the Aquiares Estate home. Alfonso’s son, Diego, now continues his father’s legacy, further exploring Aquiares’ potential as a trailblazer in the speciality coffee industry. Under his lead and through excellent agricultural management, the embracing of new varieties, and constant experimentation in processing, Aquiares continues to be a standout producer in all of Central America. ANAEROBIC FERMENTATION NATURAL The second in our Limited Release Rare series, Aquiares Centroamericano Anaerobic Natural, is the exquisite result of Diego and his team’s pioneering work in the region. The Centroamericano F1 hybrid is a cultivar that was created by crossing Sarchimor T-5296 with a wild version of the famed Sudan Rume variety. The variety has proved to be especially suited to anaerobic processing on the Aquaries Estate where cherries are washed, but not de-pulped, then placed in oxygen reduced fermentation tanks for 24 hours. The lower amount of oxygen and the increased CO2 encourages a lowered yeast activity but an increased activity of lactic-acid promoting bacteria. This process, when done well, delivers a unique sparkling, fruit-forward flavour profile.

Often referred to as ‘Coffee and Community’, the Aquiares Estate in Turrialba, Costa Rica is a testament to the visionary and transformative approach of producer Alfonso Robelo. Nearly a century after it’s founding, Alfonso has turned the page on a farm that suffered from low prices and instability, beginning a new chapter of fruitfulness. His focus was not only on the way he produced coffee, but how he could care for the people that make the production possible. He evolved the farm into a small town where workers were given the opportunity to purchase their own properties and today over 1800 people call the Aquiares Estate home. Alfonso’s son, Diego, now continues his father’s legacy, further exploring Aquiares’ potential as a trailblazer in the speciality coffee industry. Under his lead and through excellent agricultural management, the embracing of new varieties, and constant experimentation in processing, Aquiares continues to be a standout producer in all of Central America. ANAEROBIC FERMENTATION NATURAL The second in our Limited Release Rare series, Aquiares Centroamericano Anaerobic Natural, is the exquisite result of Diego and his team’s pioneering work in the region. The Centroamericano F1 hybrid is a cultivar that was created by crossing Sarchimor T-5296 with a wild version of the famed Sudan Rume variety. The variety has proved to be especially suited to anaerobic processing on the Aquaries Estate where cherries are washed, but not de-pulped, then placed in oxygen reduced fermentation tanks for 24 hours. The lower amount of oxygen and the increased CO2 encourages a lowered yeast activity but an increased activity of lactic-acid promoting bacteria. This process, when done well, delivers a unique sparkling, fruit-forward flavour profile.