The Future - Chocolate Covered Strawberries

ROAST | LIGHT MEDIUM

ORIGINS | ACEVEDO, HUILA, COLOMBIA | PALMIRA ARRIBA, BOQUETE, PANAMA

NOTES | STRAWBERRY JAM, RED WINE, CRAFT CHOCOLATE

The Future has been a beloved staple on our year-round menu for quite awhile now. With it, we have been able to showcase excellence in processing techniques, particularly in regard to anaerobic fermentation. In the past, we have predominately featured coffees from Colombia in this blend, though lots from Ethiopia, Costa Rica, and Peru have played a part in its conception as well. This year, however, we are shifting our focus away from the individual components of the blend and instead elevating flavor as the guiding principle for each creation.

You'll see several installments of this concept throughout the year, and today's release is the second in this flavor-forward series. At the risk of coming off a little "on the nose," we've named this delightful blend: Chocolate-Covered Strawberries ...just in time for Valentine's Day.

 In our efforts to re-imagine this iconic Valentine treat in coffee form, we blended two distinctly beautiful coffees from Colombia and Panama, respectively. Both lots underwent intense and interesting methods of processing which contribute to their uniquely wonderful flavor profiles, and their collective journey made them the perfect components for this cup.

The first is a blended lot produced by Brayan Alvear (Huila, Colombia) and imported by our friends at Forest Coffee. Affectionally named Juicy Strawberry, this lot underwent both aerobic and anaerobic fermentation wherein the coffee cherries were depulped and fermented with ground, freeze-dried strawberries. The result is a heavily fruited coffee that reminds us of strawberry jam. The second component, produced by Edwin Ferrenbach (Boquete, Panama), is another science experiment from the ever-innovative lab at Creativa Coffee District. This Natural lot underwent their Intrinsic Cherry process, resulting in a boozy, wine-y cup that reminds us of all things dark - well, dark fruits and dark chocolate, anyway.

In the cup: In terms of flavor, this coffee is bookended by the components of its namesake. On the nose, you'll immediately experience a pronounced strawberry aroma, and the first sip is full of red fruit and sweetness, reminding us of strawberry jam. The finish is sweet and silky, reminding us of craft chocolate - the special kind you can only get at bean-to-bar operations, like Videri Chocolate Factory here in Raleigh. Together with that boozy component from Edwin's high-fermentation Natural, this coffee also reminds of something we love to enjoy with chocolate-covered strawberries: a red fruit-forward wine with a chocolatey finish, like Malbec. Cheers, loves. 

Producers | Bryan Alvear | Edwin Ferrenbach

Processes | Juicy Strawberry |  Intrinsic Natural

Varieties | Various