like the fruitiness of chardonnay wines. This would suggest
that humidity increases the level of malic acid, though I have
not seen published studies on this.
For countries that lack the topographical elevation
necessary to maximize the beans’ potential, shade plays an everimportant
role. For what is not achieved through altitude can
be made up, within reasonable limits, by proper shading. The
goal is to slow down the metabolic rate of the plant, increase
sugar production and, ultimately, improve cup quality.
Although there are more than one thousand compounds
produced during roasting, by far the most important when
dealing with cup profile are the organic acids. As we embark on
this brief journey, we’ll explore the science behind the scenes.
Let’s begin the journey…