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Zona Alta or "High Zone" is a mountainous region in Northern El Salvador. Zona Alta is a single origin coffee from Los Planes, one of the five counties represented in the area. At over 5,000 feet above sea level, the conditions in and around Los Planes are perfect for growing specialty coffee. The coffee trees thrive in the cool, mountain air and deep, volcanic soils. Bourbon shade trees are grown above to create the optimal condition for coffee production. The unique flavor of Zona Alta coffee is a statement to the hard work and dedication that has gone into its production. From harvest to roast, painstaking care is taken to ensure the quality of the cup. The coffee berry is picked at the peak of its maturity and selected for quality. The beans are depulped by hand and washed only once, allowing the bean to absorb the sweetness of the fruit. Preparing the coffee in this manner lengthens the drying time but the fruitiness of the berry remains in the cup. The beans are then placed in the sun and turned every hour as they dry to perfection. A story about the founders of Zona Alta coffee: Kollette and Jason Stith served as Peace Corps Volunteers for 2 years in the Los Planes, El Salvador (00-02). The community became their family and friends. As volunteers they facilitated several projects in the area but it wasn't until after their Peace Corps service that they began working with coffee. Kollette and Jason loved the coffee they drank daily and felt the plight of the coffee farmers around them. They saw the opportunity to help their friends and bring an exceptional coffee to market. Throughout the harvest time they worked with the farmers through every step of the process, maintaining strict quality controls in the picking, depulping, and drying of the coffee, reinforcing the use of organic methods and teaching the farmers about the final market of their crop. They worked with over 50 men and women who received 4 times the market price for their coffee. By buying this coffee you are directly supporting this small co-opt of El Salvadorian coffee bean farmers. Click here to compare this coffee with another of our coffees! Tasting Notes from Casey "The Coffee Guy": Sweet, syrupy and peppery - with bright raspberry fruit notes in aroma. A medium, tangy and zippy brightness and medium fullness in body. In flavor I get a nice low key citric intensity with a caramelly and chocolatey finish. Very balanced and very pleasant. Recommended Roast Level(s): * Run your mouse over the roast chart for more detail * Roasting Notes: At a Full City roast (no oil on the beans, but reaching first crack), this coffee is VERY nice. The acid is low with a nice tangy dimension with a full body. In flavor, you will find sweet berries, hazelnut and a nice fruity dimension (different from the berry characteristic). The aftertaste is very clean with a pleasant chocolate as the favors fade. As you venture beyond the Full City, the acid subsides a little bit becoming more sweet than tangy. The berry and fruit flavors are replaced with a sweet chocolate in the cup. We are kind of partial to the lighter Full City roast (more complexity and depth), but this coffee will hold up to a French Roast well. Don't take it too much further though. | ||||||||||||||||||
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