Las Lajas is a well-established micro-mill owned and operated by Oscar Chacon and his wife Francisca. Las Lajas micro-mill has a separate processing line for their organic farms. Besides having some organic lots they also have a wide variety of Honey and Natural processes to enhance quality and create more complex profiles. Their processes have specific outcomes depending on several controlled variables such as varietal, brix content, thickness of the layer at the patio or African bed, and pulping method.

Since three generation the Chacon family farms the slopes of the Poas volcano in Alajuela, central valley. The fertile volcanic soils are on the basis of their high quality coffee. The Chacon’s are pioneers in organic production and sustainable practices in coffee production and are certified by the “Organic Food Federation”. Their estate is equipped with a state of the art micro mill where they process coffee on different, innovative ways. As an alternative to the fully washed process, the Las Lajas micro mill uses a Penagos Aquapulper which forms the basis for their various honey coffee. The aquapulper’s settings determine the amount of fruit mucilage left around the beans. The sugar in the mucilage is aborted in the bean which can create very funky and fruity flavors. This methods also decreases the amount of water used in production.

Process

Perla Negra – Dries directly in the sun for 10 days, rotating constantly, then transferred to bags and left for 2–3 days before being finished on the raised beds.