Ecuador | Hacienda La Papaya

Juan Peña and his farm, Hacienda La Papaya, have been producing high-quality coffee in Ecuador for many years. Located at an altitude of 2,000 MASL, his 11-hectare farm consistently yields exceptional coffee. This season, we purchased several lots from Juan, and this is the separation of his washed Mejorado.  His Mejorado has become a favorite of ours and this season the coffee is incredibly impressive. It's an elegant coffee with a range of flavors. Stone fruits, green apple and ripe melon are up front along with layers of florals like honeysuckle, vanilla and chamomile. The acidity is crisp with a lingering aftertaste and a lot of complexity.

At Hacienda La Papaya, innovation and experimentation are key priorities, always aimed at improving quality. What began as a rose farm transitioned to coffee production in 2009. The farm’s first export took place in 2014, marking the beginning of Hacienda La Papaya’s well-earned reputation for both exceptional quality and its scientific approach to coffee cultivation.

Cherries are picked at peak ripeness and floated to remove defects. The ripe cherries are then depulped and submerged in water to ferment for 15 hours. Following fermentation the seeds are thoroughly rinsed to remove all mucilage and are moved to the drying rooms where they dry on raised beds for 10-18 days.