Mraz Family Farms – LaurinaNatural - Morro Hills, CA

This naturally processed Laurina comes from one of our most celebrated farms: Jason Mraz’s Mraz Family Farms. Situated in the Morro Hills Region near coastal Oceanside in San Diego County, this farm consistently produces some of our highest-scoring and most in-demand coffees. There is something very special in this farm’s rich soil, distinctive microclimate, and commitment to organic growing practices—the farm is certified organic.

Laurina is a favorite of ours for good reason. Naturally low in caffeine—about 50% less than typical Arabica—it yields a smooth, clean cup that’s perfect for late afternoons or even after dinner. Caffeine is a bitter compound, and so its absence is noticed through improved smoothness and clarity. It makes for an idea second or third cup for those of us who loves coffee but also love to sleep as well.

At just 60 feet above sea level, Mraz Family Farms might seem like an unlikely place for great coffee, but its location roughly 10 degrees above the traditional coffee growing belt, paired with a gentle coastal climate, mimics the temperature curve of high-elevation equatorial farms. This rare combination of latitude and environment helps produce coffees of remarkable clarity and character.

This lot was processed in the natural style. Coffee was picked at peak ripeness and then floated to remove immature beans. We then fermented them in barrels in a cold chamber for 72 hours. We gave the cherries a light post-fermentation wash, then laid them out to dry: first outdoors on raised beds, then inside our climate-controlled drying room. Over the course of three weeks, they reached a stable moisture level of 10.3%. After drying, the cherries were rested for two months in a separate climate-controlled room to further stabilize. Finally, they were dry milled, classified, and hand-sorted according to SCA Green Coffee protocols.

Laurina is a rare Arabica variety first cultivated on the African island of Réunion in the 18th century. Unique among coffees, it naturally contains about 50% less caffeine than typical Arabicas. It has long been a prized varietal: It was served at the court of French King Louis XV, and later favored by notable figures such as British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, French novelist Honoré de Balzac, and President Jacques Chirac.