Named after a micromill based in the Sotara area of the Cauca region of Colombia, Manos Juntas is a naturally processed coffee imported by Cafe Imports in partnership with Banexport. Banexport established the Manos Juntas micromill to purchase coffee cherries up-front from nearby producers at high-above market value, and then process, dry and store the coffee themselves. This allows the local producers to solely focus on the healthy production of specialty coffee. The cherries are priced on weight (the riper the cherry the heavier it is) encouraging the best possible harvesting practices.
Once the cherries are purchased they are placed in large, labelled hermetic tanks for a five-day-long anaerobic fermentation. Nitrogen is introduced to the tanks to stimulate the yeast. The cherries are then aged in tanks for five more days, before they are then moved to solar dryers and left to dry for 30-45 days.
Cauca is a lush, green, mountainous region in central-western Colombia, stretching from the Western Cordillera mountain range all the way to the Pacific Ocean. The coffee in Cauca is mostly produced by indigenous and afro-descendant communities, and it is just one of the many beautiful coffee-producing regions in Colombia.
Castillo is the most common variety grown in Colombia. It is renowned for its consistent variety in flavour and exceptional balance. Although the flavour notes of castillo coffee beans cover a wide spectrum, some commonly found notes are raspberries, cranberries, vanilla, brown sugar and delicate citrus fruits, often with a light floral finish.
