Cantaloupe Melon & ApricotHarvest: Aug 2020 Country: EcuadorProducer: Carmen TapiaRegion: PichinchaProcess: WashedVariety: Typica Mejorado Altitude: 1,840 masl  The climate, geography and unique varieties found in Ecuador is the perfect recipe for an extraordinary cup, but this doesn’t come without challenges. It’s location on the equator means selective picking is especially difficult and in many regions, coffee is harvested throughout the year. A branch will often contain coffee at all stages of development with green cherries, ripe cherries and blossoms side by side. With almost continuous picking throughout the year, farmers must manage the harvesting, processing and preparations for export simultaneously. This extended picking cycle is extremely costly and is one of the reasons why Ecuadorian coffees command higher prices than it’s Andean neighbours. Carman Tapia owns a large 60 hectare farm in Pichincha, northern Ecuador, where she has lived her entire life. She first thought about producing coffee in 2013, when she received a visit from the Agriculture Ministry and was told the farm had ideal climatic and soil conditions to produce it. In April 2014, she planted her first tree and has been focussed on producing the highest quality coffee ever since. Perhaps one of the secrets to her success is that she's kept her production very small. Today, just 0.75ha is planted with coffee, but this has become one of our most eagerly awaited harvests of the year.  What makes Carmen's coffee so special is its flavour. For us, its intense florals, tropical notes and big body places it somewhere between an Ethiopian and Central American coffee, a combination we think is quite unique. This year you can expect a sweet and bright cup with notes of apricot, florals and melon.