From our friends at Red Fox: 

 
“Puno is known for its diverse landscapes, ranging from deep, warm jungle to the icy peaks of the Andes. The city of Puno itself is one of the highest in the world, sitting at nearly 4,000 meters above sea level. This dramatic geography contributes to a range of fertile soils, rich in minerals, even in cold conditions. Traveling five hours from Juliaca, one arrives in Sandia, the jungle region of Puno. With a tropical climate, favorable temperatures for cultivation, and elevations above 1,600 meters above sea level, Sandia is the starting point for discovering the exceptional coffees of the region. The main district of Sandia is Alto Inambari, named for its location along the upper reaches of the Inambari River. Elevations here can reach nearly 3,000 meters above sea level, and it is this altitude combined with the richness of the land that makes Alto Inambari home to some of the best coffees in Peru.  

Within Alto Inambari is the small community of Cruzpata, home to approximately 60 coffee-farming families. Vilma Chambi Apaza was born and raised in Cruzpata, where she continues to live and work alongside her children. Her farm spans 3 hectares and is planted with Bourbon and Caturra varieties. After a selective harvest, Vilma ferments the coffee for 18 hours in cement tanks. Drying then takes place over 12 to 15 days on raised beds or patios, depending on weather conditions. In recent years, heavy rains have made both harvesting and drying more challenging. Vilma's house and farm are located close to the road, so transporting coffee does not require long walks or mules, unlike in many other coffee-growing areas..” 

In the cup this coffee straddles that line between comforting and exciting (as we’ve celebrated and lamented many times before in these descriptions). At lighter roasts there is a zippy and refreshing limeade and black tea quality, but with a little more development that citrus starts to hit more apple and darker fruits as the most prominent acidity. We settled on the more developed profile as we feel it is much more balanced; creating a very elegant cup with loads of sugarcane and malty sweetness… a lovely morning cup of coffee for sure. 

Enjoy!