MONOGRAM - Carmen Montoya | Colombia - Cherry Fermented Washed - Chiroso

Carmen Montoya is one of those producers whose reputation quietly speaks for itself. Tucked away at her Belle Vista farm, she has been working with the Chiroso variety long before the rest of the coffee world caught on. When she won the Colombia Cup of Excellence in 2014 with this little-known variety, it set the stage for what we now know: Carmen has an incredible eye for quality, and Chiroso has serious star power.

Chiroso’s origin story is pretty special. Producers once thought it was a mutation of Caturra, but genetic testing revealed something far more interesting. It is actually an African variety with a flavour profile similar to gesha. After more than a decade of being grown almost exclusively in Colombia, it is now gaining global attention and has even taken top honours in competitions like the Best of Panama. Carmen has been there since the beginning, refining her approach year after year.

This lot uses a hybrid washed process designed to keep things clean and floral while boosting fruit intensity. The coffee starts with a short aerobic fermentation in cherry, then moves into a slow, three-day anaerobic stage after pulping. The result is a cup that is bright, elegant, and slightly playful with lemongrass, jasmine, and apple candy weaving together in that classic Carmen and Chiroso way.