Dominican Republic: Organic Ramirez Red Honey, Jarabacoa

Red honey process was roasted and sent in by our trader and scored 92 in Coffee Review!!

Ramirez Estate Bio: In the Dominican Republic, the family-owned Ramirez Estate run by the third generation employs over 400 workers who live and work on the property and make nearly 300% higher wages than Fair Trade Standard. Before the Ramirez family purchased the land in the early 1990s, the land was impotent and bare––natural water springs had long since dried up and farmers had only been raising cattle.

Today, the Ramirez Estate is one of the most environmentally-progressive and socially-conscious proprietorships in the world because they recycle materials used during coffee bean processing. First, coffee cherry parts that would normally be thrown out are converted into natural gas through fermentation––in turn, this natural gas powers their facility. Next, the used water is also recycled, filtered, and returned to water systems. Lastly, cherry pulps are added to a compost pile where they’re used as fertilizer useful to nearby farms.

In addition to creating exceptional coffee, the Ramirez Estate also gives back to its community in countless ways. By building schools in rural areas, local children no longer have to walk nearly twenty miles a day, and after donating books and computers, students have more opportunities to learn. The Ramirez Estate also allows other farmers in the Dominican Republic to use their processing plant to assist in coffee export.

The pictures seen on our website are part of our personal experience touring the estate and meeting the Ramirez family––they are humble, honest, and produce some of the highest-scoring coffees we carry.

Honey Process: This coffee bean is red honey-processed and grown in the Dominican Republic’s Jarabacoa region at 1,400 meters above sea level––its variety is caturra. As a honey-processed bean, the skins of the fruit are removed, but the pulp, or mucilage, remains on the bean during fermentation––this leaves a sticky-sweet sensation and fruity notes. The longer the mucilage remains on the bean, the longer the fermentation––thus the darker the honey process and the sweeter the cup.

Cupping notes: With milky notes of vanilla, and a nutty aftertaste, with heavy strawberry aromas that carry over into a stone fruit flavor. Smooth and balanced sweetness. This low acid coffee is smooth and will impress any island coffee lovers out there.

Try before you stock up with a 1/2 pound sample!

Learn more about Dominican coffee beans with our DR coffee guide.