Ana Maria & Nicolas Crespo ‘Pillcocaja’ Typica • Washed // Azuay, Ecuador

by Hex

This washed Typica is produced by our friends Ana Nicolas Crespo at  Pillcocaja, a 7-hectare farm located in the Yunguilla Valley.  The microclimate here is shaped by consistent sunlight, cool air currents, and the shade of native faique trees, which collectively contribute to slow, even ripening and high seed density. The soil at Pillcocaja was previously unused for over 70 years prior to the introduction of coffee, preserving its structure and allowing and rich and natural biodiversity to lend to a dense nutrient load for the coffee trees introduced here. Harvesting is carried out in multiple selective passes, targeting cherries with optimal ripeness using criteria based on color, texture, and Brix readings. The cherries were pulped and fermented aerobically for 18 hours, allowing for vibrant flavor development through controlled microbial activity. After fermentation, the beans were hand-washed in traditional canales de lavado to remove the mucilage, then dried for 10–12 days on s