Complex in its flavor profile, the La Bolsa brims with the juicy sweetness of peach, cherry and cantaloupe. Notes of warm baking spices, a fudge-like complexion and a floral quality in the aroma contribute to its exceptional quality. This coffee is so versatile that a range of brewing methods--including drip, pour over and espresso--will render a delicious cup. No amount of descriptors can adequately capture this microlot's appeal.
Named for the bag-shaped topography that this estate sits in, Finca La Bolsa offers ideal growing conditions for coffee with its high elevation and microclimate, as well as onsite coffee processing facilities enabled by a small river that cuts through the property. Grown from the noble Bourbon and Caturra coffee varieties, the La Bolsa has everything going for it.
In 1984, just as the world was beginning to recognize the potential of great specialty coffee, Dr. Jorge Vides, M.D. was awarded the prestigious Outstanding Coffee Grower Award from ANACAFE (the Guatemalan national coffee association). Having established Finca La Bolsa twenty-six years earlier, this visionary was living out a successful second career after having retired from his thirty-year profession as a distinguished Guatemalan doctor.
After Dr. Vides' death in 1995, his daughter Maria Elena Vides de Ovalle and her son Renardo Ovalle assumed ownership of the company that had expanded to several coffee estates over the years. Sustainability and traceability are among the family's stated priorities, and the work shows in the attention to detail they have taken in harvesting, processing and exporting.
The family operates their company through Vides58, named after Dr. Vides and the year (1958) that he launched coffee production at La Bolsa. Their commitment to quality was first recognized over 15 years ago with a second place finish in the 2002 Cup of Excellence competition. Additionally, Vides58 partners with CoffeeCare to ensure that parents employed on the family's estates are afforded a child-centered facility in which their children's educational, social and health care needs are addressed while they are at work. Maria is also a member of the Guatemalan chapter of the International Women's Coffee Alliance.
Origin Information:
Grower: Maria Elena Vides, Finca La Bolsa
Variety: Bourbon, Caturra and Pacamara
Region: La Libertad, Huehuetenango, Guatemala
Harvest: January - April
Altitude: 1300 - 1600 meters above sea level
Soil: Clay minerals
Process: Fully washed after pulping and fermenting; dried in the sun on a patio, under parabolic shade, and in guardiolas
