Estate vs Microlot: What's the Difference?
What is the difference between an "estate" coffee versus a "microlot" coffee? Do those terms matter when you are buying coffee beans?
Traceability.
Not only in coffee, but in many food products, around the world, traceablity is not only becoming more desired, but also easier to execute. While most coffee is blended and exported in regional lots, in many circumstances, we can trace lots of coffees to single farms, or even a single acre.
Among the many benefits of traceability are that farmers are able to secure a living wage in exchange for the products they produce and consumers are able to have greater access and insight into the supply chain that produces their coffee.
She helped pick your coffee! Coffee production on the family-owned Edelweiss estate in Oldeani, Tanzania.
The most traceable lots are often referred to as 'microlots,' a term that may cause some confusion. Although this term is applied differently around the world, usually microlots are single farm coffees, selected for quality or species (i.e. Bourbon, Castillo,etc.)
There are many agricultural models utilized around the world--farms, estates, co-ops--each with differing levels of traceablity and highly dependent on local laws and customs. Some examples will help illuminate the complexity of subject.
Small Estate, Single Farmer.
We have several coffees at Trianon that can be traced to a single estate or farm, or single section of a farm. Our Honduras Lempira, for example, is grown by a farmer, Marvin Bonvilla and his family, who are part of a growing association through which their coffees might be blended and homogenized with other growers's coffees and sold as a regional export. But this year, the coffee from this farm was high enough quality to be isolated and exported as its own lot.
Coffee beans being inspected by hand during the washing process at Marvin Bonvilla’s farm in Honduras.
While this is clearly an estate coffee, it is not necessarily a microlot even though it comes from a single farm. Marvin may pull beans from all over his 60+ acre farm to make this coffee so special. So it was not sold as a microlot, but it is still highly traceable.
Isolated Lots & Special Processing Methods.
Another good example of traceablity is our Costa Rica Honey which is grown in the very famous Tarrazu region of Costa Rica. This is also from a family farm--of the Monge family, in the Santa Elena Estate--and not only is this coffee isolated from a single farm from within that estate, but it is further isolated by also going through the honey process. (In Costa Rica, most of the coffee is washed.)
The Monge family in Tarrazu, Costa Rica.
It is this isolation of a portion of a single farm's harvest which make this coffee a true "microlot."
Microlots & Estates.
One final illustration of these concepts comes from the two Tanzanian coffees currently in stock.
Our washed Tanzania (Edelweiss) comes from several Estates run by the Vohora family, including the Ascona, Helgoland, and Edelweiss Estates. It is a large geographic area with dozens of exported lots every year. So whereas the Honduras comes from a small estate, our Edelweiss lot comes from a larger estate-network. But still it is an estate coffee, and relatively traceable.
Coffee beans being dried on raised beds at Edelweiss Estate in Tanzania.
In Tanzania, many estates are vast in land area with many farms located within, a common agricultural structure in many of the well-established coffee growing regions of Africa and Indonesia.
Our Tanzania Honey is from the Finagro farm, within the aforementioned Ascona Estate. From this estate the Vohora family have exported a single lot of honey processed coffee. That gives this coffee the triple provenance of being single-estate, single-family, microlot coffee, specially selected and specially prepared. Traceability at it's finest.
Honey processed coffee beans from Finagro farm in Tanzania.
Takeaways.
These are just a few examples that hopefully help illuminate the terms we see on our coffee bags and bins. Practices vary considerably between regions of the world. Around the world of coffee, farm and estate sizes and structures are as varied as you can imagine them to be. But traceability always means the same thing.
We will continue to try to tell you exactly where your coffee comes from and bring you the farmers story. We think the coffee tastes better that way.
Want to try some of the coffees mentioned in this article? Browse our current selection of Small Estate & Microlot Coffees.
221 comments
A Life-Changing Experience, Dr Kachi A Testimony of Gratitude
I would like to share an extraordinary experience that has transformed my life. I came across a remarkable testimony online forum about a powerful and renowned spell caster, Dr. Kachi. At the time, I was skeptical because I had never encountered anything related to magic or spell casting before. However, the story of Dr. Kachi’s work resonated with me, and I decided to give it a chance. For years, my family and I struggled financially, and despite my best efforts, I never had luck winning the lottery. I loved playing, but winning seemed impossible. Everything changed when I connected with Dr. Kachi, who provided me with a winning lottery number through a powerful spell. In just 24 hours, I was able to play the lottery and won the Lotto 6/49 prize, a remarkable $68 million cash prize, on September 27th in the Gold Ball Draw. This incredible win has completely changed my life and the financial well-being of my entire family. After 10 years of trying unsuccessfully, I am now living my dream life. I am beyond grateful to Dr. Kachi for his assistance, Dr. Kachi has truly been a blessing to me and my loved ones. I encourage anyone who is interested to reach out to Dr. Kachi for guidance. his website https://drkachispellcaster.wixsite.com/my-site or email drkachispellcast@gmail.com. Also reach him text or call +1 (209) 893-8075.Thank you once again, Dr. Kachi, for making my dreams come true.
RECOVER YOUR LOST CRYPTO ASSETS WITH CNC INTELLIGENCE. NO UPFRONT PAYMENT.
CNC Intelligence is a team of Cyber Intelligence, Crypto Investigation, Asset Tracing and Offshore Legal experts. Working together to form a boutique cyber and crypto intelligence group focused on providing results.
Using the latest Cyber Tools, Open Source Intelligence (OSINT), Human Intelligence (HUMINT), and cutting edge technology, we provide actionable intelligence to our clients.
WHY CHOOSE CNC INTELLIGENCE?
- Expert Cyber Investigation Services —Our cyber investigators are certified in the US, UK and experienced with investigations spanning 6 continents.
- Cryptocurrency And Digital Asset Tracking -- We are able to track the movement of several different cryptocurrencies and assets. If the cryptocurrency has been moved, we are able to follow it.
- Strategic Intelligence For Asset Recovery - The first step to recovery is locating recoverable assets. Our experienced team will be able to walk you through the process.
Schedule a mail session with our team of professionals today via – cncintel247 (@) gmail (.) com to get started immediately OR visit cncintel (.) com to get booked within seven days.
BEWARE of FABRICATED reviews and testimonies endorsing fraudsters, do not get scammed twice.
Disclaimer: CNC Intelligence is not a law enforcement agency and not a law firm. Like all investigators, we cannot guarantee specific results, but we apply our expertise and resources to every case professionally and ethically.
I want to use this medium to share my incredible manifesting with Dr. Kachi, who truly changed my life. For a long time, I struggled with homelessness after losing my job as a nurse. Life felt like an endless battle, and I spent many years trying to win the lottery, hoping for a better future. But despite my efforts, I had no success and was growing increasingly frustrated. That was until I came across an amazing testimony from a woman named Natasha, who shared how Dr. Kachi helped her win the National EuroMillions jackpot. I had always loved playing EuroMillions, but winning seemed impossible for me. However, after seeing Natasha’s story, I decided to reach out to Dr. Kachi prepared a special spell to help me with guaranteed lucky numbers. Within 24 hours, he provided me with the winning numbers and instructed me to play. To my amazement, I won £184.656 million in the EuroMillions! Thanks to Dr. Kachi, my life has been transformed, and my financial situation has changed for the better. I will never forget this joyful moment, as it has been the best thing to ever happen to me. If you’re struggling and seeking a way out, never give up. Dr. Kachi can help you, just as he helped me. Keep your faith and take a chance – your life could change too! contact website https://drkachispellcaster.wixsite.com/my-site his email drkachispellcast@gmail.com or his phone text or call number: +1 (209) 893-8075
Honestly… Love spells work. My marriage was restored and my husband came back to me he apologized for all the wrongs he did and promise never to do it again. A big thanks to this wonderful psychic for bringing my husband back to me.. I never really believed in magic spells or anything spiritual but a trusted friend opened my eyes to the truth about life. My marriage was heading to divorce a few months ago. I was so confused and devastated with no clue or help on how to prevent it, till I was introduced to Dr. Excellent that did a love spell and broke every spiritual distraction from my marriage. A day later my husband started showing me love and care even better than it used to be, he’s ready to talk things through and find ways for us to stay happy. It’s such a miracle that my marriage can be saved so quickly without stress. You can also contact him for help. Here his contact. Call/WhatsApp him at: +2348084273514 "Or email him at: Excellentspellcaster@gmail.com , His website:https://drexcellentspellcaster.godaddysites.com
Honestly…Love spells work, Dr. Excellent is genuine and reliable. My marriage was restored and my husband came back to me he apologized for all the wrongs he did and promise never to do it again. A big thanks to this wonderful psychic for bringing my husband back to me.. I never really believed in magic spells or anything spiritual but a trusted friend opened my eyes to the truth about life. My marriage was heading to divorce a few months ago. I was so confused and devastated with no clue or help on how to prevent it, till I was introduced to Dr. Excellent that did a love spell and broke every spiritual distraction from my marriage. A day later my husband started showing me love and care even better than it used to be, he’s ready to talk things through and find ways for us to stay happy. It’s such a miracle that my marriage can be saved so quickly without stress. You can also contact him for help. Here his contact. Call/WhatsApp him at: +2348084273514 "Or email him at: Excellentspellcaster@gmail.com , His website:https://drexcellentspellcaster.godaddysites.com