Galapagos La Tortuga - Washed - Rare/Exclusive Filter

Galapagos La Tortuga - Washed - Rare/Exclusive Filter

A very special coffee from a very special place in this world, grown at a very low altitude but gifted with unique terroir and micro-climate, the most deliciously sweet and tasty coffee is produced on the Island of Santa Cruz in the Galapagos Islands. They lie 1000km off the west coast of Ecuador, with dedicated producers and excellent practices, has made this a very rare and unique lot, with only 345kg of this coffee produced this year.

Sold in fancy holographic bags and a couple new stickers, this coffee won't be around very long! 

Big thanks to Elaine for help with designing the little tortoise sticker! 

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• Producers + Mill:

The Galapagos Islands, located 1,000 kilometers from mainland Ecuador, are a one-of-a-kind destination often referred to as a "living museum of evolution." Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, these islands are celebrated for their extraordinary biodiversity and minimal human impact. Despite their location on the Equator, the islands benefit from the cool Humboldt currents, which create diverse microclimates. On Santa Cruz Island, where most coffee is grown, the northern side is a dry tropical forest, while the southern side is humid and lush—the perfect environment for coffee cultivation. 

In a fragile ecosystem often threatened by tourism and agriculture, Galapagos farmers stand out for their commitment to environmental conservation. Their sustainable practices ensure that coffee cultivation supports, rather than harms, the unique biodiversity of the islands. This dedication highlights a balance between human activity and nature in one of the most biodiverse-sensitive regions in the world.

The Galapagos offers a distinctive coffee-growing experience, with plants thriving at altitudes of less than 400 meters above sea level, thanks to the island's exceptional microclimates. Farms here preserve heirloom varieties like Typicas and Bourbons, brought to the islands over a century ago by Manuel Cobos, a coffee enthusiast who smuggled Bourbon plants from French Polynesia. Many of these coffee trees are more than 30 years old, adding a historical legacy to the region’s coffee production. 

Visiting the Galapagos leaves a lasting impression. The islands’ untouched environment, unique wildlife, and sustainable coffee practices inspire people to think differently about their relationship with nature. The Galapagos offers a rare glimpse into a world where harmony between humans and the environment is not only possible but thriving.

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• Varieties:

Sarchimor - Sarchimor coffee variety is a hybrid of the Costa Rican Villa Sarchi variety and the Timor Leste Timor variety. There is a little bit of Robusta mixed in as well. It is commonly grown in Central America.

The Sarchimor has a tiny, greenish, or bronze sprout, or perhaps both, based on the line, vitality, and high output; it responds well with the low to moderate elevation regions. The cup texture is decent at low and middle elevations. Sachimor is a cultivar that has historically been associated with lesser cup quality than some others, however, they have proven critical for coffee growers who face severe threats from coffee leaf rust. Aside from being cultivated in Costa Rica, the Sarchimor type is also grown in India.

Caturra -  This variety originated in Minas Gerais, Brazil. It is a natural mutation of Red Bourbon. Caturra produces more coffee and is more resistant to plant diseases than Bourbon

Typica Mejorado - is a very unique variety mainly grown in Ecuador. Recent genetic testing by World Coffee Research demonstrated that Typica Mejorado is a hybrid of Bourbon and Ethiopian Heirloom/Landrace—it’s not a descendant of the Typica lineage, even though it’s taken the name of ‘Typica Mejorado’. The cup profile is meant to have a more refined sweetness and body and a higher quality acidity compared to the regular Bourbon variety.

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• Process:

Coming soon! 

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• Region: Santa Cruz Island, Pichincha, Pacto
• Producers: Santa Cruz Island Farmers
• Farm:  Small holder farms
  
• Importer: Caravela
• Price (green ex Shipping): £36 p kg

• Variety: .Sarchimor, Caturra, Typica Mejorado.
• Process: Washed
• Altitude: 400 masl
• Amount Bought: 30kg

• Tasting: Fruity, Tropical, High Acidity, Super sweet, complex, 
• Flavours like: Yellow Plums, nectarine, caramel, hazelnuts