INTRODUCTION
Located in Llano Bonito of Naranjo, West Valley of Costa Rica, the plantation is recognised for its specialty coffee production.
The plantation is the first ever to be planted with 100% F-1 Hybrid varieties and serves as testing ground for innovation and best practices.
Altitude: 1800 above sea level
Variety: Milenio
Processes: washed
Plantation size: 11.6 hectares
INNOVATION IN AGRICULTURE
Fernando and Angie own coffee plantations in the Western Valley of Costa Rica. This region has been called one of the most complex due to its microclimates. Morning sunshine, afternoon rain, volcanic soils and high elevations without frost... coffee growing paradise! This region also accumulates an extremely high percentage of Cup of Excellence winners.
Their estate is located at more than 1800 meters above sea level. Their goal is to find the most ideal processing methods for each variety that they harvest.
Fernando is an agricultural engineer and pioneer in the cultivation of new hybrid F-1 coffee varieties. These have been developed by World Coffee Research together with Catie and Sirad University, with the intention of developing genetic diversity and driving the industry's sustainability. These varieties are stronger against climate change and plant diseases than their local counterparts, requiring less pesticides and have a higher production yield.
Angie recently acquired her Q-grader certification. Her tasting skills and dedication means that the quality of the coffee they produce will only continue to improve by combining their knowledge in cultivation all the way to processing, roasting and up to the final cup result.
F-1 Hybrids make their land not only more productive than average, but result in amazing quality coffees with high SCA cupping scores.
THE MILENIO VARIETY
The Milenio Varietal is a cross breed between Sarchimor and Rume Sudan. It has very good cup quality at elevations above 1300 meters and well-adapted to agroforestery conditions.
It has a large fruit size and the cherry has more mucilage, making intrinsically fruitier and sweeter than other varieties.
F1 Hybrid varieties are created by crossing genetically distinct parents (for example, a wild Ethiopian variety x Caturra). The offspring of the cross are first-generation (F1) hybrids. F1 Hybrids are notable because they tend to:
1. Have significantly higher production than non-hybrids.
2. Maintain high cup quality ideal for the specialty coffee market.
3. Are disease resistant (need significantly less agrochemicals)
F-1 hybrids are the hope for a sustainable future in the coffee industry!