New Wave / Peru

About the Coffee

San José de Lourdes is a highland district in San Ignacio, Cajamarca, sitting close to the Ecuadorian border. The area is made up of smallholder farms spread across ridges and humid valleys, with elevations ranging from 1,650 to 1,850 meters. Farms here grow coffee under native shade trees in mixed agroforestry systems, which slows cherry ripening and contributes to the clean, sweet profiles the region is known for.

The coffee is a blend of two Arabica varietals: Caturra, a widely grown Latin American variety known for its consistent, bright character, and Pache, a natural mutation of Typica that originated in Guatemala. Pache suits steep mountain terrain well due to its compact plant size, and in the cup it tends toward clarity and softness. Both varietals here are processed using extended washed fermentation, which means the fruit is removed from the bean before it dries, and the bean is left to ferment longer than usual in water. This extra time in fermentation helps develop complexity while keeping the cup clean and defined.

The San Ignacio region of Cajamarca has been building a reputation for high-quality washed coffees over the past decade, and the farms of San José de Lourdes are a good example of why. Regular rainfall, native shade cover, and high elevation give producers a natural advantage that careful processing can then amplify.

About Rosso

Rosso has been roasting coffee in Calgary for 16 years. The roastery has built its sourcing around direct relationships with producers and a focus on finding coffees that reflect where and how they were grown, rather than blending toward a house style.

Their approach to roasting leans toward letting the bean drive the result. Rather than standardizing flavour across their lineup, they source with specific varietals and processing methods in mind and roast to bring out what is already there.