Assembly Coffee - La Rosita 2024, Heirloom Washed
Taste Notes: Apricot, Raspberry, Sticky.
Producers — Rosa Morillo
Farm — Finca La Rosita
Region — Pichincha, north-central Ecuador
Variety — Ethiopian Heirloom
Terroir — 1450 masl, cool tropical climate
Process — Washed
Recommended brewing
Best: Pour Over
Great: Filter (batch brew, French Press, Chemex)
Very good: Espresso
Rosa Morillo
In the early 2000s Rosa worked at a forward thinking experimental farm that was one of the first in the country to produce Sidra and Typica Mejorado (varietals both native to Ecuador). Rosa developed a deep knowledge for every stage of the growing process.
After developing a deep knowledge of the entire coffee production process, Rosa leased a plot of land with her husband Olger. She focused on producing high-quality lots and in 2012 a Typica Merjorado of hers took home first place in a national speciality coffee competition. But just a year later, full of confidence and high hopes for the next harvest, the couple were unceremoniously evicted from their land.
Regrouping and rebuilding over the next five years, in 2018 the pair secured the funds to establish their own farm - Finca La Rosita. Working with the most basic of facilities, 2021 marked La Rosita's first commercial harvest and she has gone on to produce exceptional lots from each harvest thats followed.
In the cup, this coffee is full of peach notes. There's some apple and plenty of floral aromas. Delicate in texture, it shines when brewed as a pour over.
Supporting Rosa to rebuild
Recently and without warning, Rosa and Olga were forcibly evicted from their home (a small farm, 45 minutes by car from Finca La Rosita) by their landlord. Tragically, the group involved in removing them from the property also bulldozed every last one of their coffee plants, destroying years of hard work and financial investment.
The couple have been relocated to La Rosita but the farm lacks essential facilities. It consists only of a wooden shack used for tool storage, and a polytunnel constructed with funds secured from Assembly for a previous years harvest.
Rosa and Olger now plan to build a house, purchase a generator and create infrastructure that will enable them to get back on their feet.
All profits from the sale of this coffee will be donated straight to the couple, and as a company we'll also match this amount as an additional donation.