Within the specialty coffee world, there are few varieties as mysterious and elusive as the Villalobos Bourbon. Villalobos Bourbon has a cult following with coffee lovers due to its rarity and near-extinction status paired with the unique flavor profile imbued in it from their heritage. This, ladies and gents is no ordinary coffee bean; it represents the art of hand crafting delicious flavours with as much history to go back in time till bourbon lineage that precedes most!
This article goes into more of the history, cultivation and what makes Villalobos Bourbon coffee beans special compared to other Bourbons. This rare bean provides a captivating ride through flavor, culture and artistry whether you are just beginning your daily coffee ritual or stand as an espresso master.
Before we delve in to use Villalobos Bourbon coffee beans, Let us study his origin from the coherent household along with beginning of almost any friendly Arabica grade known. Bourbon coffee Coffee trees of the Bourbon variety, photographed on an East African[which?] islandThe first selection of Coffea Arabica was in Africa.Perhaps the most famous example can be found at La Sorsha estate near Kenilworth, as it is claimed to have been taken from a single tree that traveled with someone settling Nairobi. It was later moved to different corners of Africa and Latin America where it thrives best in particular environments so has become a very popular varietal among specialty coffee.
Villalobos Bourbon is naturally occurring sub-variety of the Bourbon which was discovered in Costa Rica in the 1950s. This is named after the Villalobos family, coffee growers that are rumored to have discovered this interesting cultivar in Costa Rica. The process of over the years as opposed to other Bourbon expressions taken on their own and adjusted specifically for its growing regions there are some unique characters that feature in all Bourbon Villalobos.
It is not common, and that makes it unique. As a low-yield bean which is also prone to disease, Villalobos Bourbon is not nearly as common grown commercially compared to other coffee types, and has become much-coveted among aficionados.
Villalobos Bourbon farming: When Quality Meets Scarcity.
Villalobos Bourbon is a delicate product that requires the ideal conditions of an incredible number of variables to reach its optimal qualities. This bean does not grow well under general conditions as other more common coffee plants; it only grows in specific environments and requires very meticulous handling.
Growing Conditions
These coffee beans are high grown; typically between 1,200 to 1,800 meters above sea level in volcanic soil regions. The higher altitude slows the maturation of coffee cherries, increasing overall complexity courtesy over developing complex sugars within those beans. This helped craft the rich, sweet and balanced flavor profile in Villalobos Bourbon coffee.
This set of conditions – warm days and very cool nights, combined with the volcanic soil which it is grown in creates a rare bean. The high mineral content in the soil combined with a tropical climate allows for absorption of vital nutrients to produce round, balanced and full bodied beans.
Virtually all of the farms that produce Villalobos Bourbon coffee beans employ organic farming methods. As the bean is prone to diseases and pests, farmers have increasingly moved towards sustainable practices such as organic fertilisers, inter-cropping with companion plants (e.g. maize), agroforestry techniques including shade-growing of coffee beans etc. So not only does this create a high grade coffee bean, but also an environmentally friendly product.
Shade-growing methods are used to replicate the natural habitat of coffee plants, which normally evolves under a canopy of taller trees. This doesn’t only shade the plants from too much sun but also provides a home for a wide range of wildlife and insects. This ecological balance helps each group remain healthy and keeps plants in check.
Villalobos Bourbon coffee trees have a tiny yield and the beans are difficult to grow, therefore they take a great deal of care—usually grown on micro-lots where farmers lavish their small stock with all that it needs. Many of these farms are small, family operations where coffee growing knowledge has been passed down from one generation to the next.
Since both production are at micro scale and the Villalobos Bourbon trees have a low yield, this contributes to it being one of the most expensive beans in specialty coffee.
However, it is the rarity that Villalobos Bourbon coffee beans are known for which makes them an interesting feature in anyone’s brew menu but without a doubt their strong and unique flavor profile. They are, in the words of a coffee lover like Howard: “a cup of complexity” one with flavors that transform from sip to sip.
Tasting Notes
Villalobos BourbonEstateBe Prepared for a Jazzy, Bright Acidity That Is BridledLight RoastBuy Online >>One of the main characteristics of their coffee beans is that you can look forward to enjoying an exuberant brightness which gives way effortlessly into natural sweetness. Beans roasted will proffer different flavors in 3 or more layers.
Fruit-Forward: A characteristic that Villalobos Bourbon tends to be praised for is a bright and fruity note, often sung about as stone fruit notes (peach / apricot / plum). Others may even show slight hints of berry.
One of the first things you will notice when tasting Villalobos Bourbon coffee is its delicate floral aroma, particularly present in light roasts. Fresh, fragrant floral notes add a deliciously beautiful aspect to the cup.
Nutty undertones: Beneath the fruit, there are nutty essences almonds or hazelnuts, for example that give a warm and grounding medium to contrast the bright high notes of triptych.
That also begs the question of what gives these beans their sweetness some tasters note flavors in Villalobos Bourbon beans that are caramelly, or even honey-like. It leaves a sweeter note on the palate which delivers an easy, but good finish.
With complexity, Villalobos Bourbon coffee beans feature a taste that can be expressed throughout multiple brewing methods whether it may pouring over or espresso. By comparison, lighter roasts skew more toward the acidity and fruit flavors present in the coffee bean, while darker ones will bring out deeper caramelized notes.
Villalobos Bourbon Coffee beans roasted into coffee itself is a craft. Because of the fine structure and pronounced balance between flavors present in these beans, roasters must tread very carefully with temperature to make sure they do not meddle too much with the already existing taste sensations.
Light vs. Medium Roasting
Light roast: Villalobos Bourbon beans work excellently as a bright and fruity coffee when roasted lightly. It is a style of roasting that well represents the high fruitiness, and almost tropical acidity in brighter fun-bold more complex coffees.
Medium Roast: A medium roast brings forward sweet and nutty flavors in the coffee. If you like your coffee nice and sweet with a little bit of body to it, this one’s for you.
Roasters play with various profiles, searching for the goldilocks zone to bring out flavors while keeping true to what Villalobos Bourbon is characteristically all about.
Villalobos Bourbon coffee beans are rarely produced on a large scale, so they are really precious treasure to the world of speciality coffee. These beans are grown predominantly in small lots by family farmers of various regions of Costa Rica and parts of Central America. However, the low yield of Villalobos Bourbon trees coupled with their susceptibility to pests and diseases means that farmers frequently opt for quality over quantity.
Due to its rarity and flavor complexity, the specialty coffee market is where Villalobos Bourbon can be found. This rare screening process means that consumers are likely to only find this uncommon bean variety at the high-quality specialty coffee roasters and shops which highly value ethically sourced coffee.
Today, this bean holds a special spot in the hearts among coffee nerds and pros alike even being called “a unicorn” of the coffee world by some because it is such a rare find that gives you something unique every time. That makes it even harder to locate, further contributing to the mystique behind Villalobos Bourbon coffee.
Villalobos Bourbon Coffee and the Global MarketGuest post by Sophie Palzewicz, Senior at UW-MadisonSustainability in coffee is multifaceted; it touches all sides of business from production to consumption.
Like most speciality coffee beans, there are sustainable and ethical processes associated with Villalobos Bourbon harvesting. Farmer -> People who grow the bean, Assured that they will be compensated for their hard work by Fair Trade or some other ethical “sourcing program”.
Many Villalobos Bourbon farmers belong to cooperatives that provide payment for their crop and resources such as trainings, helping them to improve quality on an ongoing basis. In addition to being environmentally responsible, these cooperatives also help local communities by providing better education and healthcare as well as infrastructure in the coffee regions.
Protecting the Environment
The farmers who grow Villalobos Bourbon coffee also contribute to preserve nature. Their utilization of organic farming practices, reductions in chemical inputs and maintenance of biodiversity on their properties ensure a more sustainable (and ecological) coffee production approach.
Villalobos Bourbon Coffee Brewing tips
The Villalobos Bourbon coffee beans are hard to come by and if you end up getting your hand on a bag, it is important that you brew them in such way so they taste the best.
Brewing Methods
Pour-overs: In this method, the slow extraction lets through all the bright acidity and delicate fruity notes of Villalobos Bourbon. This could be a Hario V60 or Chemex.
French press: A French press will give you a fuller-bodied cup and show off the caramel sweetness, nutty elements that bean offers.
Espresso: The Villalobos Bourbon coffee works quite well as an espresso with all that complexity and sweetness condensed into a small format.
Like all speciality coffee, you should grind the beans just before brew time to keep them as fresh as possible. Depending on how you are brewing, the grind size should be medium-fine for pour-over and coarser if using a French press.
Villalobos Bourbon $ for 3 oz This is the height of what artisan production coffee could be in terms of both rarity, complexity and sustainability. Wether you are slowly sipping on a cup brewed from beans in your counter at home or if it just being served to you as soon as after going shopping for artisan coffee in a specialty shop, Villalobos Bourbon is an oh so deluxe yet scarce choice that any good kind of human can only classify immediately among the most delightful coffee experiences ever.
Next time you seek that unique coffee experience, be sure to give Villalobos Bourbon a whirl – this is more than just a cup of joe; it’s an exploration on your tongue.
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