Diedrich IR5 Analysis by Doris Garrido
My earliest memories of coffee come from Veracruz, México, a state well known for its coffee culture. The first time I saw real coffee in a jute bag was when my dad brought some back on one of his trips to that state. Last April, I had the opportunity to meet Givette Perez Orea and her brother during the coffee expo in Houston. She gifted me a collection of cards painted with the diverse Orquídeas de México. I was intrigued and searched for their finca Fátima. What a beautiful name, I thought. I am pretty sure there's a great story behind it. It seems the siblings are sensitive and romantic just like me. What I found was that the finca looked amazing surrounded by lush greenery in the magical land of Ocotitlán, Veracruz, a natural paradise I might say.
I roasted their Marsellesa very carefully, the density showed low, and knowing the Timor roots, I was fully committed to caramelizing as much as possible. These beans absorb the heat quickly, I assure you.
I started with a low charge -391 F - I noticed the beans heating up quickly in the first minute so I waited to add all the gas. I kept it for 3 minutes - remember Diedrich will retain energy- so after that I just dropped to the lowest setting. Next, I added full airflow at 316F. If I could change something, I’d reduce it to 50% at that point. I nearly lost the roast before the first crack, but fortunately, the coffee cracked at that moment, and caramelization continued for 1:44 minutes of post-development. I dropped the coffee at 393.7F.
A long drying phase, with a total time of 11:15 minutes of roasting. I am just realizing how long the roast went! The coffee truly needed a gentle touch - and I was rewarded with a beautiful juiciness, crisp lemon acidity, clean, vibrant profile. Caramelization came through like apple pie, candy, cherry cola, Tootsie roll and star anise. A very rounded cup that balanced its juiciness and acidity with a silky caramelized body.
There’s a saying in Veracruz: ‘Solo Veracruz es bello’ I say all of my México is beautiful, but this piece of finca Fátima truly represents the beauty of Ocotitlán, Veracruz.
