Details
Coffee quality is a product of altitude and processing. One of the truisms of coffee growers is that the bean is at its finest the moment the ripe cherry is picked from the tree. The only thing the grower can do from then on is to diminish the quality - he can in no way improve on it.
This means that as growers our responsibility is to pick only the ripest most perfect fruits and process them as perfectly as possible to bring out the full taste that nature put into them.
Picking Coffee
At Esmeralda we start by carefully instructing those who hand pick the fruit, to only pick the completely ripe, red fruits. They are paid a premium for this. Every night, as the coffee is received in the 'beneficio' (our processing plant), each harvester's production for the day is weighed and inspected for defects or green beans.
Here at Esmeralda we strive for absolute consistency and excellence in preparation, to produce a coffee of medium plus acidity, a sweet and clean cup with a touch of citrus flavor. Although our processes are certified in accord with ISO 9002, still we devote enormous time to the details and fine touches that have always distinguished Esmeralda Estate coffee from 'just another coffee'.
