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La Laja, a family farm and mining group in Veracruz, Mexico, began in 1920 when its founder, Hermilo Sampieri, bought his first coffee farm in Huatusco. His son joined in, and eventually, one farm became seven––Finca La Laja, Finca El Mirador, Finca Las Palmas, Finca La Veracruz, and three other farms in Puebla. La Laja has a wide variety of cherries purchased from small farmers in Chiapas. They are experts in processing, and they own wet and dry mills.
La Laja’s honey-processed bean has its skin removed, but the sugary pulp remains through fermentation to add a sweet flavor. After de-pulping, this coffee dries for up to 20 days on covered raised beds.
Cupping notes: This coffee is supremely sweet with a mild orange citric acidity, chocolate and sugar cane flavor profile, and a big creamy body. It is very clean and consistent.
Try before you stock up with a 1/2 pound sample!
by Thicc on September 11, 2022
Love this coffee. Bought a sample package just to try but, I am amazed. Roasted these beans to medium and man oh man is this coffee nicely sweet, chocolatey, and thicc with body.
by Yen on June 14, 2022
Purchased a 5 lb. bag in July 2021, and liked it. So, I purchased again in April of 2022 of a 10 lb. bag. I just had the chance to open this bag. This 10 lb. bag was a total disappointment compare to the 5 lb. bag before. The beans looks over dried in the Sun, lots of actual crack lines on the beans. The color looks like already been through the drying cycle of the roast. At least 20% are completely unusable with bug hole, black molds and fractured. Not sure the rest are any good. Wondering if any one else bought the same batch and and roasted can tell me if it is worth the time to roast them?
by Taylor Barone on May 28, 2022
This coffee is awesome, light to medium roast is so flavorful, one of the most smoothest coffees I’ve drank, excellent customer service.
by David Sargent on May 15, 2022
This easily makes top 5 for me right now. It's so good at various roast levels. It delivers excellent body and a nice spiced character at a balanced medium, but in a lighter roast, sweet, honey notes are introduced to contrast that back-end spice. It's pretty great stuff.
by Chadwick Whitstine on April 26, 2022
This is a wonderful coffee. And u really really love the service here at CBC
by Don Pablo on April 22, 2022
A fantastic coffee! Roasted to a medium-dark. Since I am a citrus and sugarcane grower Im always on the hunt for a coffee that contains mild notes of orange and/or sugarcane. This coffee filled the need. Flavor profile on the website was on point.
by James on April 15, 2022
Roasts up great, has a very bright sweet flavor
by David on April 8, 2022
This was a big time performer. Roasting between light and medium and giving it a full week to rest yielded such a pleasant cup. Will be buying more.
by Jeannine on March 30, 2022
This La Laja bean surprised me. I did not expect it to perform as well as the higher priced beans from Central America. I am new to roasting in the past four months using a small Gene Cafe. This bean handles very well in the roaster with a nice medium roast finish taking off right after first crack. Love the aroma along with the chocolate, nutty taste.
by Joelambo on March 23, 2022
Bought 5 pounds in 2020. Was very good. Bought 10 pounds end of 2021 with great expectations. I am disappointed. Lots of deformed beans. Roast to past first crack just like in 2020, but the flavor and aroma are not like the previous purchase.
by Allan Kremer on February 24, 2022
I purchased 10lbs of this La Laja Honey and have roasted at several different levels each brewing at variable grinds in the Chemex, French Press, Breville espresso, Mocha pot, and cold brew.. non of them are my favorite. It’s not a bad bean by any means, but I’m not in love with it. It contains excellent aroma, but didn’t contain the fruity/sweetness flavor that I was hoping to pull out of it; it just tasted like a regular bean from its local region.
by CMDR_Boom on December 25, 2021
This bean has become a family and friend pleaser, blending well with many Cen. American beans that complement a medium roast with chocolate highlights (brilliantly pairs with Brazilians and Nicaraguans). It tastes just as magical as the roasting aroma! 40 minutes at 425 is the sweet spot for me.
by Dylan Manning on December 18, 2021
Pleasantly surprised with this bean. Lightly roasted, Mostly through 1st Crack. Had a light chocolatey + nutty after taste, smooth drinking. With this price point it will go on my list of regulars.
by Melissa on October 15, 2021
I am very new to roasting. This was By far my favorite of the 5 coffee samples I started out with. Roasted to medium-dark. Delicate and creamy. Definitely buttery with slight floral notes. Complex flavor that’s hard to pin down and so outstanding. So incredibly satisfying! It was also my favorite to roast. Very clean and the Beans are uniform with a velvety appearance when roasted. Very easy to achieve an even and balanced roast. Will definitely be a staple in our pantry!!!
by TDH on August 11, 2021
Was searching for a new go-to bean. Prefer the honey processed varieties. Tried the Honduran, Dominican, and this Mexico bean. The price point of this bean kept it in the race, but was just a bit sharper and not as smooth as the other two. Still a great bean, and could have been my go-to pick if I hadn’t tried to compare it to the others. Great bean to roast…good profile. It’s a good bean!
by William Campbell on July 28, 2021
By William July 28, 2021 I roast it DARK makes best cold brew. My family did a blind taste dark won over all roasts.
by jesnbec on May 13, 2021
We always roast just past first crack, this bean is absolutely beautiful, and the chaff just flies off of it, remarkably easy to remove. Of all the ones we've tried so far, this one was definitely in the top five.
by Bub's Daddy on May 9, 2021
I roast it dark/oily and then some. Seems somewhat complex, hard to tie down, smooth, chocolatey, holds it's character till the last cup. A winner. Don't forget the folks at CBC making this all possible.
by Dave Ross on February 25, 2021
This is the first honey processed coffee I've ever had, and so far quite please. To my surprise, and this is my favorite part, is in the first stages of the roast, while the beans are golden just before darkening, they smell must sweeter than any other bean I've roasted. Kind of like Honey Graham crackers. I'm a dark roast kind of guy, but I have to go with a blonde or slightly darker than blonde roast with this bean.
by Lance W. on January 5, 2021
This is the smoothest coffee I have ever had, the honey process really makes a robust but sweet taste unlike any other. It is very uniform in taste independent of the roast. A dark roast isn't the least bit bitter. Definitely my new favorite.
by Nathan Bolton on December 23, 2020
Tried a lot of varieties this is one of my all time favorites. Kinda strange though I get a grilled steak topped with butter type of flavor from it. This my go to coffee to accompany breakfast in the morning. Flavor is intense and finish lasts forever!!!
by Careyolney on November 24, 2020
This is a great option if you like honey processed coffees.
by Tyler Gotowka on October 20, 2020
Very good taste at medium-dark, very smooth and flavorful.
by Craig on October 16, 2020
Where are the non washed looking beans? 1 in 10 has the reddish hue of a bean that had fruit on it.......all others all look well washed. Very disappointed in this one vs the Honduran Honey process which has 70% of the beans actually look like honey process beans. Taste left in my mouth with this coffee was nothing spectacular and the notes mentioned in describing it didn't come through.
by Rob The Man on October 15, 2020
I am quite happily surprised. I acquired a new coffee roaster, and knew that there was great potential that several roasting batches would be undrinkable until I mastered the new hardware. Accordingly, I purchased 3 pounds of this coffee as it was very inexpensive. To my surprise, this coffee, albeit quite economical, is very good. If provides a nice aroma, and the flavor and body with a dark roast provide a good cup of coffee. I have been blending it with both Columbian and Nicaraguan beans, and it contributes nicely to the end brew.
by lars on October 7, 2020
I originally ordered a single pound then five more. I have been experimenting with the roasts and so far I prefer a City roast for the nutty flavor and slight acid. The Full City is also good but I have not gone darker yet.
by jhyounis777 on September 15, 2020
I got this on special for I believe $4.25 for the pound, but even at regular price, it’s a great buy. It roasts up evenly to a light-medium roast in my Whirley-Pop. The chocolate taste comes through strong, and the sweet-orange notes are definitely there, but more subtle. It is extremely rich in flavor, and is a great representation of some of the great qualities of really decent Mexican coffee. I felt it stood up well to the stuff from Chiapas.
by Karen on September 5, 2020
My first attempt at roasting was just barely a city roast and it tasted like a cup full of caramel. Either I'm a natural at this roasting thing, or this bean is just too good for mere mortals. Best cuppa jo I've ever had.
by Bruce on August 24, 2020
Took this to about 20 sec into 2nd crack. Even with less than a 24 hr post-roast I still enjoyed a very nice cup this morning. Very pleased. I've seen "smooth" mentioned a few times and have to agree. Looking forward to what comes out after a longer rest.
by Nathan Johnson on July 22, 2020
This is a great bean. Size is big enough for easy roasting, even in basic home toaster set ups. Great body, perfect acidity. One of my favorite beans.
by cstlljnthn on June 28, 2020
I love this coffee at medium dark it has a distinct nuttiness and boldness
by David A Baird on June 12, 2020
I like the selection and the quality of the coffee and shipping was awesome. The coffee roasted great. My go to coffee bean supplier.
by John on June 11, 2020
First and foremost this is the cleanest roasting coffee I have ever run through my roaster! Super blown away! On top of that it’s amazing and selling like CRAZY for me. Thanks for the beans...may be making the permanent switch to coffee bean corral.
by Joe on June 6, 2020
my goodness. you just can't get any better for the money. full city + and there you have it. heck, medium to medium+ will give you smiles..
by Christian Alvarado on May 30, 2020
I love this coffee. My customers definitely love this coffee!! I’ll roast it right past the second crack for amazing chocolate and Nutty notes. Defiantly best as a medium-dark roast. Not good as a light-light medium roast. I’ll let it rest for 1 day before drinking. Definitely a great cup of coffee. I find it personally best brewed as a French press or even a coffee pot.
by Jessica on May 24, 2020
Great flavor, smooth flavor right out the roaster.
by Bob on May 23, 2020
Good price, fast shipping at a reasonable rate and excellent tasting coffee. A winning combination for sure!
by Greg on May 12, 2020
I like this at a vienna roast. Ordered 5lbs and just came back to order some more!
by Tim on April 14, 2020
My kind of coffee. Pleases my wife and myself. WOW!!!
by Steve on April 11, 2020
Medium dark just as 2nd crack begins. Balanced cup. Chocolate and earthy tones. Definitely a fan.
by Rick Counihan on April 1, 2020
Orders 5lbs of the Mexican Chiapas and I'm glad I did. Love this stuff. Great flavor, very smooth. Very drinkable.
by John Wildman on December 7, 2019
Very good coffee for the price, best deal in a long time .
by UGACoffeeDawg on November 26, 2019
I use a Breville Barista Express and have really learned to love this coffee. However, I have found it almost impossible to get this coffee by itself to pressure. I now blend it with Brazilian Daterra CDC and it is fantastic. By itself it is good even at lower portafilter pressures but blending it with the Daterra has resulted in a smooth, butter chocolate flavor. I have tried blending it with Costa Rican La Magnolia and it comes out as a peanut butter and chocolate taste with a rather strong nutty after taste. I typically roast it to a good city roast and the accompanying coffees at a medium roast. I really like this coffee.
by John Hoffman on October 25, 2019
I do a medium roast and it always is good to me with brown sugar and cinnamon
by Tortoise99 on October 6, 2019
Drinking my first cup of this excellent coffee. Everything claimed about it and more. Easy to roast, loud pops at first crack, smooth and full flavored. Very happy with this purchase.
by dingo co on September 26, 2019
This bean always roasts up perfectly and make a great cup of JOE! I highly recommend it :)
by Pastor Mel Kendall on September 26, 2019
I bought this for the obvious bargain but was very pleased with the fantastic flavor! My only regret is that I should have bought more.
by Steven Johnson on September 14, 2019
Very Good Coffee! Well received by my customers. Plus I like to say that I'm going home to roast some Mexican green (coffee).....
by Mark Bennett on July 25, 2019
Very nice bean. Mellow. Slightly sweet.
by Karen on July 21, 2019
I put a med - dark roast on this and it came out crisp, w/o a heavy aftertaste. Very nice and what I've always wanted.
by Lazy Lyon on April 27, 2019
I have been roasting coffee for 20 years and am little picky about the coffee I purchase. So when I say a like it - it is very good. I roasted this Mexican to the start of the 2nd crack and was very pleased with the results. Very well smooth and creamy with a good overall flavor. A hint of chocolate adds a nice touch. I will try a darker roast as others have suggested.
by FeyWatcher on April 9, 2019
Great coffee! Has the flavor profile I alway aim for when roasting, and its single origin. No blending required. It has a very wide and forgiving roast range. I generally like dark Medium roasts to light Dark roasts. This bean works when for both and even keeps a smooth non-bitter flavor after the 2nd crack. All that said, I like the Organic FTO slightly more.
by Dallas Hohman on April 6, 2019
Very good lite roast or dark roast my customers love it
by Randy on December 12, 2018
Great taste. Makes a nice dark roast.
by Joey on June 18, 2018
I've been looking for a bean with a nutty taste and feel like I got very close with this one. I love the flavor, nutty but melow. I did a lighter roast stopping around the the first crack.
by tgbenfield on April 29, 2018
Bought 3 pounds of this tontry when they had it on sale... after the first roast I knew I should have ordered more. In fact, I just did! Ordered 10 pounds this time. I’m roasting in a Behmor 1600+ and my usual full city roast. Fantastic easy drinking coffee. My last batch I let go well into 2nd crack and it is tasty as well. I will be buying more soon!
by J on January 25, 2018
I ordered 3 lb of these beans. I have been experimenting with them and tried them in different degrees of light and dark, I also cold brewed some beans at medium-dark. I have to say that this isn't my favorite coffee so far. It doesn't taste bad by any means, but it also doesn't have a flavor that stands out and it seems like there is almost no aftertaste. I still have plenty of beans, and I will keep experimenting to try and bring more flavor out of them. I plan to find another bean with a strong aftertaste and make a blend of the two. As the other two reviews noted, the best way that I have found to roast these beans is very dark.
by Anonymous on December 4, 2015
I'll have to agree with the rating above mine. Roast it dark so the oils start to come out. Lots of flavor and smooth.
by Anonymous on July 6, 2013
Great flavor as a dark roast, smooth as a medium
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