How Do Colombian Coffee Beans Characteristics Show in Chiroso?

Chiroso, a variety from Urrao in Antioquia, Colombia, won the Varietals category at the 2024 reliable of Panama competition with 94.1 points, submitted by Black Moon Farm. It had already placed second in 2023 with 91.88 points. The win highlights how Colombian coffee beans characteristics, including pointed, elongated seeds and complex acidity, are gaining recognition in Panama.

Chiroso was first found in Urrao and won the 2014 Colombia Cup of Excellence. Its genetics were once mistaken for Caturra, but research links it to Ethiopian landraces. In the cup it shows floral and fruity notes similar to green geisha coffee beans, yet with a fuller body. The variety has since spread to other Colombian farms and into Panama.

In the 2024 28th Best of Panama (BOP) competition, the Chiroso submitted by Black Moon Farm won the Varietals category with 94.1 points, continuing this variety's impressive performances on the international stage in recent years. Chiroso originates from Urrao in Antioquia, Colombia. It won the 2014 Colombia COE and has since been gradually introduced to Panama and other places. Its genetic background was once mistakenly thought to be related to Caturra, but research later confirmed that it is related to Ethiopian landraces, though it is not a natural mutation of Caturra. Chiroso beans are pointed and elongated, with prominent floral and fruity notes and complex acidity. Its flavor is often compared to Geisha, while its body is fuller. This article will sort out the variety's origin, spread, plant characteristics, and flavor performance, and introduce its roasting potential, providing coffee lovers with a complete variety profile.

In recent years, attention in the specialty coffee circle toward emerging varieties has continued to rise. Many competition participants have used new faces in major competitions, instantly pushing those varieties into the public eye. The previously prominent Sidra is a typical example.

Not long ago, Panama held the 2024 28th Best of Panama (BOP) competition. This edition set up three categories: Washed Geisha, Natural Geisha, and Varietals.

In the 2024 Varietals category competition, the Chiroso from Black Moon Farm took first place with 94.1 points, becoming the category champion. Chiroso has only entered the public eye in the last two or three years. At the 2023 BOP competition, the Chiroso also representing Black Moon Farm had already won second place in the variety category with 91.88 points.

It is understood that the place of origin of Chiroso is Colombia. It should be noted that although it comes from Colombia, it is not the result of breeding by Colombia's National Coffee Research Center. This variety was first discovered in Urrao, Antioquia, in northern Colombia. Antioquia is the birthplace of Colombian coffee. It is not only an important producing region but also the area with the richest diversity of planted varieties, with both smallholder farmers and large estates.

At the 2014 Colombia COE (Cup of Excellence) competition, Chiroso took first place, while third place and eleventh place were also taken by this variety. After that, other estates in Colombia gradually introduced and cultivated it. By the 2021 Colombia COE, Chiroso appeared in large numbers again. Later, it was introduced to Panama.

At first, Chiroso was regarded as a natural mutation of Caturra. Because the coffee cherries of this variety are relatively slender and elongated, it was named Chiroso, a Colombian slang term meaning "something slightly elongated."

However, findings by some research institutions later showed that there is no genetic relationship between Chiroso and the Bourbon variety, which also means that it is not a mutation of Caturra. These studies also pointed out that Chiroso is genetically related to Ethiopian landraces. As for exactly how that Ethiopian landrace was introduced to Colombia, there is currently no definitive conclusion.

The coffee-growing altitude in Urrao is relatively high, and the temperature is relatively low. When local growers first planted Chiroso, they valued its cold tolerance and high yield. Now, it has won widespread attention and praise for its complex floral aroma and rich flavor performance.

In terms of plant morphology, Chiroso is quite similar to Caturra: the leaves are shorter and light green, it also has high-yield characteristics, and both are susceptible to coffee leaf rust. Chiroso's bean shape is relatively pointed and elongated, with distinct floral and fruity notes and complex acidity. Industry evaluations describe its flavor as close to Geisha, while its body is better than Geisha. In addition, thanks to its higher density, growing altitude, and Ethiopian genetic background, Chiroso can be roasted darker and can enhance sweetness by extending the Maillard reaction phase.

The above content is compiled by CoffeeHunters, a coffee news website.