Ecuador Specialty Coffee - A Promising New Origin
Why Ecuador?
Specialty coffee roasters all agree that what most stands out about our origin flavor profile is the sweetness. Whether fruity or floral our coffees are not known for high acidity and have a gentle body, however, the sweetness is always present. Many high profile baristas have “discovered” our origin in recent years and have used Ecuador coffee to win championships, however, due to low production and availability, Ecuador is not as mainstream as other origins such as Colombia or Costa Rica.
Cold Brew Recipes
Summer is right around the corner, enjoy this fun cold brew recipe with your favorite Ecuador coffee.
Home Brew Basics
A fun video on how to prepare your favorite Ecuador coffee at home.
Coffee Regions
Southern Ecuador
Loja: has the longest specialty coffee tradition in Ecuador. Many producers have preserved the Typica varietal and it´s desired cupping profile. Genetically, Loja is a powerhouse for specialty coffee and year after year most of the top ten coffees in our Taza Dorada competition come from this province.
Zamora Chinchipe: has young farms that use a lot of yellow bourbon and caturra due to wet climate. These producers have learned from Lojano farmers, however, the climate and different varietals give these coffees unique and exotic flavor profiles.
El Oro: is lower in elevation, it has a strong domestic reputation, but few microlots internationally.
Central Ecuador
Azuay, Chimborazo, Bolivar: are all relatively new to specialty coffee. Chimborazo is currently the darling of the industry with many of its coffees going to top international roasters. Most producers in Azuay and Bolivar do not practice proper post harvest processes and therefore these regions are still developing.
Northern Ecuador
Pichincha: mainly has adolescent farms, with many first generation producers who have structured their crops specifically for the specialty coffee industry. Very interesting microlots are coming out of this Province, however, expect higher price tags than in Southern Ecuador.
Imbabura: has the oldest specialty coffee farms in Northern Ecuador, these producers put an emphasis in fair trade and organic certifications. Solid specialty coffee, with interesting sweet lime profile.
Carchi: is heavily influenced by Colombia due to proximity. Very similar hybrid varietals and cupping profile to Colombian coffee.
More than a Seasonal Offering
Ecuador produces a surprisingly small amount of Specialty coffee, which may be the reason why its hard to find at your local café for more than 2 months a year. Because we are located at the Source you can get Ecuador coffee any time you want. Send us an email if you want a monthly subscription where we send a bag of coffee from every region in Ecuador over the year.
