Coffee Description
A natural processed gem from the Caldas region in Colombia. La Cristalina is one of those coffees we try to get our hands on every year; the flavor makeup is always so inviting and balanced. With this particular harvest, we're tasting heavy blackberry sweetness complimented by a soft milk chocolate texture and, to our surprise, there's even a subtle cherry cola sensation in the aftertaste.
Roast Level from the Roaster
Refers to the roast level in comparison with other coffees from the roaster
Light
Roast Level according to Crema
Refers to the roast level in comparison with all the coffees on Crema.co.
Light/Medium
Variety
Caturra
Process
Natural
Elevation
1650 masl
About Luis Jose Valdes, San Pablo farm, Finca La Cristalina Mill of Colombia
This coffee is farmed in Vereda Baio Español in the municipality of Chinchina. The farmland where this coffee is grown is located between 1460 and 1790 MASL, and of it’s 21 hectares, just over 4 of them are dedicated primarily to environmental reserve. This land consists of three farms that feature a combined total of 421,000 trees. Biodiversity is one of the primary motivations for these producers. Their growing areas feature a complementary shade system including such trees as walnut, red cedar, guava, and black cedars, which are a protected species at risk of extinction. This sheltering canopy also provides bird habitats.
After harvest, the coffee is fermented in cherries for 18 hours and then dried on raised beds for 20 days. After the coffee is washed and depulped at the ecological mill, it is then placed in compost to provide organic fertilizer for the trees.
Our coffee expert
Aubrey Mills
6+ years experience as Coffee Taster, Wholesale Director, barista and Coffee Quality Director.
Aubrey Mills is steeped in coffee. Not literally, of course, but since 2013, she’s been preparing and tasting coffee for a career. Initially as a barista at the Portland, OR Insomnia Coffee and Dapper & Wise, her job was to stay on top of quality and help customers find coffees they were excited about. This involved tasting all the coffees they’d be serving that day, dialing in espresso or approve a drip recipe.
She soon became Director of Wholesale at Dapper & Wise, where she regularly cupped at quality control cuppings with the team, hosted cuppings for the public and trained wholesale partners on proper coffee preparation. In the role of helping to maintain Dapper & Wise’s menu of diverse flavor profiles, roast levels and processing methods, Aubrey also visited coffee producing countries. She says, “Traveling to origin and experiencing the beginning of the coffee journey has given me greater perspective for how many variables can impact flavor in the final cup.”
Along with her on-point palate and killer coffee know-how, Aubrey brings creativity, sparkle and grace to everything she does, actively looking for opportunities to showcase the value of specialty coffee and address sustainability issues in the industry.
had this to say:
Aubrey Mills is steeped in coffee. Not literally, of course, but since 2013, she’s been preparing and tasting coffee for a career. Initially as a barista at the Portland, OR Insomnia Coffee and Dapper & Wise, her job was to stay on top of quality and help customers find coffees they were excited about. This involved tasting all the coffees they’d be serving that day, dialing in espresso or approve a drip recipe. She soon became Director of Wholesale at Dapper & Wise, where she regularly cupped at quality control cuppings with the team, hosted cuppings for the public and trained wholesale partners on proper coffee preparation. In the role of helping to maintain Dapper & Wise’s menu of diverse flavor profiles, roast levels and processing methods, Aubrey also visited coffee producing countries. She says, “Traveling to origin and experiencing the beginning of the coffee journey has given me greater perspective for how many variables can impact flavor in the final cup.” Along with her on-point palate and killer coffee know-how, Aubrey brings creativity, sparkle and grace to everything she does, actively looking for opportunities to showcase the value of specialty coffee and address sustainability issues in the industry.
"A well balanced naturally processed coffee, I taste flavors that are both boozy and comforting. Similar to pinot noir, the acidity is developed with a rich base like lava cake. The linger is long and sweet with a creamy body. "
Indie Coffee Roasters
At Indie Coffee Roasters, we’re motivated by coffee, community, and collaboration. We take great pride in every aspect of our work, from the biggest to the smallest details. Our team is more than a group of employees, we’re like family, and we work together toward a common goal: making Indie Coffee Roasters the best it can be.
When it comes to creating great coffee, each step of the supply chain matters. We consider every aspect of our coffee selections, including questions you might never think to ask like: What kind of soil did this coffee grow in? How was it harvested and processed? What is the climate like where this coffee was farmed? Many people focus primarily on the final step--How was the coffee roasted? How should it be brewed?--and those are equally important questions, but there is so much more to it than that!
Of course, the roasting process is incredibly important too, and some of the most important work we do. We consider our roasting process to be a perfect blend of art and science as we roast with precision to capture the flavors in each of our carefully-sourced coffees.
In addition to bringing great coffee to our community, building relationships is at the core of who we are. We work directly with coffee producers whenever possible and ensure that our coffee sourcing is transparent and beneficial for every person in the supply chain. We love to celebrate our coffee producers as we wouldn’t be here without them. Whether we’re connecting with our regulars who frequent our coffee shop locations and wholesale partners who serve our coffee from their own locations or learning all we can about our amazing coffee producers all around the world, from start to finish, coffee is all about community.
