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Black Diamond - Francisca Cubillo, Costa Rica
Black Diamond - Francisca Cubillo, Costa Rica
Tastes like: 70% Dark Chocolate Ganache, Candied Orange, Sugar Plums
Light
Fruit Dried (Natural)
Syrupy and Modern
Regular price
$38.25 USD
Regular price
Sale price
$38.25 USD
Unit price
/
per
Shipping calculated at checkout.
- Farmer Equity: 20% of retail price = $8.10 /340g - $9.00 /lb
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- Partner Since:
- Ideal as:
- Sub Type:
Black Diamond- Natural Aerobic Process 100% Orange Bourbon
Processed like an anaerobic but with oxygen then dried 50% African raised bed & 50% on patios in the sun
Black Diamond
- Aerobic Natural processing - 24 days total
- 50% African raised bed - 10 days drying
- 50% Greenhouse Patio drying - 14 days drying
- Pick of the beginning of the harvest -highest brix
- Lower Temperatures - slower drying, continuous turning
Francisca and OScar wanted to do a special micro-micro lot just for us. I mentioned that my favorite tasting coffee cherries were orange Bourbon so Francisca decided to hand select only orange bourbon from her special reserve lot in their most important farm Las Lajas (where the whole operation gets its name) and then process it using the famed Black Diamond natural process.
There is a very small amount of Orange Bourbon on Las Lajas and they made it all for Torque. We were so excited we sent the box directly to us via Fedex! We only have 30kilos total of this amazing coffee! We got an impressive 93 score on coffee review for the standard Black Diamond and this one is quite a bit better and far more special.
Beneficio Las Lajas ranks as one of the most progressive, high-quality coffee mills in all of Costa Rica. Francisca Cubillo and Oscar Chacón are the third generation of coffee producers in Costa Rica and the first to process their own coffee. Las Lajas is one of the few farms in Costa Rica growing Certified Organic coffee.
Las Lajas is located in Sabanilla de Alejela Costa Rica near the base of Poas Volcano. The west Central Valley is the location of some of the best coffee in Costa Rica. Francisca and Oscar Chacon are third generation coffee farmers since 1840. When Oascar’s father passed away he inherited 5 hectares at the age of 18. He and his mom kept the legacy alive. In 1997 Francisca and Oscar were married. Francisca attended University in Costa Rica for an agriculture degree in coffee.
In 2009 a massive country-wide earthquake caused widespread power outages and destruction right at the peak of their coffee harvest. Francisca had a crazy idea to try and dry their coffee with the cherry intact since that is how they do it in parts of Africa where there isn't electricity and running water in the dry season. So they spread their coffee cherries out on patios, flat roofs and even hastily built camas africanas (african style raised beds) and dried their coffee slowly in the sun. The results were this crazy black dried cherry that they called Perla Negra. And it was amazingly delicious! And history was made in Costa Rica.
Producers: Francisca Cubillo and Oscar Chacón
Country: Costa Rica
Region: Sabanilla de Alejela
Farm: Beneficio Las Lajas
Varietal: 100% Orange Bourbon
Process: Black Diamond Natural
Altitude: 1,250-1,750 MASL
Exporter: SMS Costa Rica
Importer: Atlantic Specialty
SCA Quality Score: 93
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Parameters
Brew Parameters
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Espresso Parameters
Espresso:
18-19g coffee in
36-38g liquid out
200-201F
27-30 seconds
Financial Transparency
* Producer Price (lb): $9.00 green
* Farmer green coffee price NOT FOB price
* transport, customs, export, insurance and other FOB costs are below
* FOB to EXW costs (lb): $.75
* Transport Costs (lb): $1.05
* Final Landed Cost: $10.80
* Roasting weight loss ~18%
* Roasted cost per pound $12.74
* Torque costs to roast, pack & ship coffee: $7.25 /lb
* Final cost: $19.94 /lb
Proportional Pricing
Out of the $400 billion coffee industry, a meager 5% stays where it's grown, leaving farmers with crumbs. At Torque, we're rewriting this injustice. Our radical approach ensures equity for coffee producers, shifting power dynamics.
Torque Coffees is transforming the coffee industry with Proportional Pricing©, a simple, transparent system that ensures at least 20% of the retail price of every coffee remains in the country of origin. Unlike traditional models that leave producers with scraps, Torque links their earnings directly to the coffee’s retail value, giving them a fairer share. No hidden fees, no complex formulas or giveback schemes—just clear, upfront equity for the people who grow your coffee. By reverse-engineering the supply chain, Torque is creating a fairer system where both producers and consumers know exactly how much value returns to origin.
We're breaking norms, building a fairer future. Torque Coffees reverse-engineered the chain, advocating for a balanced, equitable industry. It's time to empower those who make your coffee. Together, let's dismantle inequality in the coffee world.
Sustainability Info
Since we are all on the consumption end of things we can never get to carbon neutral without stealing the carbon positive from coffee farmers. So instead of aiming for a negative, we are striving to destroy less and be as carbon beautiful as we can.
The Torque Coffee Bag
100% Plastic Free
100% Compostable & Biodegradable
100% Plant Based
We have partnered with Better Packing Co to be even more carbon Beautiful!
Every order is packed loving in either:
the brilliant ZeroPack mailer Made mostly from limestone quarry waste and a minimal amount of recycled resin as a binding agent.
YES THESE bags are made of freaking limestone!
The Zero Pack is a truly remarkable process!
For larger multi bag orders and for wholesale orders we use the equally brilliant
BAMBOO Box!
These boxes are made mostly from bamboo (and some recycled wood pulp). They are just the thing to ship precious goods in. Curbside recyclable, reusable (at least a couple of times) and compostable.
Unbleached, FSC certified Bamboo (2/3) and recycled wood pulp (1/3).
• Water-based printing ink.
Let customers speak for us
from 123 reviewsDelicious. Flat out.
I was wrapped up in many things all at one time, including two overlapping live conversation, with my cup in front of me. I stopped. Full stop stopped because the coffee was so good. I just enjoyed the moment.
Andi Mersch
01/15/2025
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Modernist - Coffee Subscription
Great flavor and smooth
Fantastic coffee! Rivals an expensive Gesha!
Highly recommended!
David Hornick
12/19/2024
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Once Upon A Time- BERNADINA from Maria Pacas
The best beans
10/10
I've been using these beans for over 6 months. Love all the notes
Colin de Mello
09/22/2024
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Honey Drop
Balanced sweet
I primarily make espresso and long blacks. This coffee stands out as sweet and balanced. Easy to dial in for a lighter single origin. Overall it’s a very nice coffee that shows it’s been cared for every step along its path to me.
Grant Glidewell
06/09/2024
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Edwin's Reserve - Edwin Martinez, Guatemala
La Perla Negra Black Honey - Costa Rica
Just WOW! I’ve tried a lot of Torque Coffees, and other coffee brands, and La Perla Negra Black Honey is by far the best! I don’t know how this bean hasn’t won a ton of awards, it’s so freaking good! The aroma and taste are unique, complex, delicious, and addictive!
William Thomas
04/15/2024
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Torque Coffees
La Perla Negra Black Honey is amazing. It’s what you’ve been looking for. The sweet fruit aromas and flavors stand out the most! It’s unlike any coffee I’ve ever tried before. It’s definitely in its own lane. If you’re looking for something different and amazing, this is it!
William Thomas
04/15/2024
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Las Lajas, Perla Negra Honey - Costa Rica
Finca Vista Hermosa
A beautifully balanced coffee with layers of chocolatey goodness, gentle in yielding its gifts, a perfect dollop of fruity acidity, I could drink this every day.
Preparation: Pour over with Hario Switch. First 2 pours at 199 F; third pour immerse for 45 secs at 160 F. Enjoy.
Elliot Brown
04/09/2024
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Edwin's Reserve - Edwin Martinez, Guatemala
Too soon
I hate getting pressured to review after a week! Haven’t even tried both roasts yet. So this is the review I’ll give you. The coffee is expensive! I don’t really mind except that ideally I would want a little more for 20 bucks. As for quality yes it good coffee, I’d say first impressions great coffee buuuuut the Colombian finca vista is definitely not as good as stumptown’s El Jorden which is a good baseline for Colombian single origin (in my awesome opinion of course). itoo soon to give a real review. Need more time and a free bag! lol 5 stars for sure. Also best packaging I’ve seen. Makes you really wonder if a small business like Torque uses such sustainable packaging then why hasn’t Amazon/Target/every corp adopted this as a standard……
that's my review and just like my observation
Man.
Michael Adams
03/02/2024
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Edwin's Reserve - Edwin Martinez, Guatemala