A breathtaking honey from the infamous direct trade farm Las Mercedes. Not only does Las Mercedes deliver another great bean, La Avila is a unique honey processed semi-washed coffee. Whereby the skin is removed and the flesh remains as it dries, creating a distinct flavor characters. La Avila Honey a sweet Bourbon, a ripped ruby grapefruit with an apricot sweetness, swirled with notes of citrus, cinnamon and light brown sugar. A well rounded cup with a blossoming body, luscious lasting aftertaste.

REGION: Cerro El Tigre
VARIETAL: Bourbon
FARM: Las Mercedes
ALTITUDE: 1523 M
FARMER: Ortiz Barriere
ROAST: Medium
NOTES: Honey

What drew Klatch Coffee to Las Mercedes was great coffee, but what we fell in love with was the people, the process, and their passion to make the coffee so great. It begins with hand picking only ripe mature cherries, and then subjecting them to intense screening before depulping to eliminate twigs, leaves and other foreign material. At the wet mill the cherries are received into ceramic tiled ditches, washed with fresh collected rainwater from their own tanks and immediately fed into a pulper, which consists of rotating disks or cylinders, each one fitted with adjustable knives. These are designed to separate the bean from the flesh of the fruit while leaving each bean intact in its parchment envelope. They then dry the coffee on clay patios to ensure even drying.

The same care and consideration invested in the coffee is invested into the Las Mercedes community. The Ortiz Family has always been devoted to taking care of those who have helped in their success, by providing clothing, food and health care. In addition, Las Mercedes is constantly making efforts to preserve natural wild life by taking special care of the disposal of by-products from the mill in order to avoid contamination also, in compliance with our certifications, chemical and pesticides are carefully store and managed by trained personnel, avoiding intoxication and contamination. In the last years, a great effort has been made in planting native trees to preserve these species.

Finca Las Mercedes is a beautiful coffee farm with dedicated owners who care for their community, their workers, the environment and, nonetheless, seek to provided specialty coffee. We are proud to offer this limited Direct Trade coffee that is also Rainforest Alliance Certified. As part of our Direct Trade contract, 25 cents of every pound is given back to fund community sports programs and Los Ortiz medical clinic. To read more about Los Ortiz medical clinic please visit cafelasmercedes.com/dispensary.asp.

* 'Oscar', Good Food Award (2012)
*   Roaster of the Year (Roast Magazine 2009)
*   World’s Best Espresso (at World Championships, Tokyo 2007)
*   Golden Cup (For Excellence in Coffee Brewing)
*   Best Coffee and Coffee House (Daily Bulletin)
*   Small Business of the Year (IVEDC)
*   United States Barista Champion (Heather Perry 2003 and 2007)