Carmen Montoya Washed Chiroso

$27.00
About This Coffee

ROAST: Light
ORIGIN: Bella Vista, Antioquia, Colombia
NOTES: Lime Zest, Chamomile, Cotton Candy Grape

This washed Chiroso from Carmen Montoya is a beautifully elegant expression of one of Colombia’s most distinctive varieties. Grown at Bella Vista in the mountains of Urrao, Carmen has spent decades cultivating Chiroso and helped bring the variety international recognition after winning the 2014 Cup of Excellence. Her careful washed process highlights everything that makes Chiroso so compelling — delicate florals, vibrant acidity, and an incredibly refined, tea-like structure.

The cup opens with bright lime zest before soft chamomile florals begin to unfold. As it cools, a candy-like grape sweetness emerges, bringing a playful contrast to the coffee’s delicate structure and lingering into a finish that is silky, floral, and wildly elegant.

Story

The Story Behind Bella Vista

This release is especially meaningful to us—it’s our second coffee from the Unblended Project, an initiative we deeply admire for supporting a new generation of producers while building long-term sustainability in specialty coffee.

Carmen Montoya has spent over 23 years cultivating coffee in Urrao, Colombia. After inheriting her love for farming from her parents, she began with a small plot of an unknown variety that would later become known as Chiroso. In 2014, she won the Cup of Excellence with this coffee, helping establish Chiroso as one of Colombia’s most celebrated varieties.

Today, Carmen continues to lead within her community—helping neighboring producers improve processing and quality standards while championing the recognition of Urrao’s coffees on the global stage.

Origin & Process

Origin & Process

📍 Antioquia, Colombia
🌱 Producer: Carmen Montoya
🌳 Farm: Bella Vista
🌄 Altitude: 1900–2000 MASL
🍒 Varietal: Chiroso
⚙️ Process: Washed

🍒 Selective Harvest – Hand-picked ripe cherries with manual sorting and flotation
💧 Initial Fermentation – Whole cherries fermented for 12 hours before depulping
⏳ Extended Fermentation – Additional 72-hour open tank fermentation for layered florals and clarity
☀️ Sun Drying – Dried slowly on raised beds for 8 days
✨ Precision Processing – Carefully controlled washed processing designed to highlight Chiroso’s floral and tea-like character

 

Brewing Recommendation

Best brewed as a Pourover