JANUARY 2025 - El Retiro Dial

January 20, 2025

Dose: 20g

Ratio: 1:17

Grind: Much Finer than Neutral

Brew Time: 3:10

TDS: 1.31%

Extraction: 19.2%

Sensory Description:

Being a honey processed coffee, El Retiro presents with deep pleasant sweetness and a relatively low acidity. When well-dialed it tastes of dried fruits such as raisins, dried plums, and figs with a milk chocolate sweetness and full body. There is a subtle acidity reminiscent of red apples. All combined, the result is a rich and sweet cup that maintains a tasty degree of complexity.

Dial Notes:

This coffee is generally very forgiving for brewing a good cup, but with some tuning is capable of great cups. Being relatively low in acidity, this coffee comes across as thin or weak when under-extracted rather than sour. Both ends of the spectrum, under- and over-extraction, will detract from the rich sweetness that this coffee offers when well-dialed. If you’re experiencing a lack of sweetness combined with a thin mouthfeel, you’re likely under-extracting. Lack of sweetness combined with a drying sensation on the palate is likely the result of over-extraction. Adjust your grinder accordingly, and shoot for a deep and syrupy sweetness.