Mt. Apo’s Hidden Gem: Filipino Arabica That Defies Expectations
The verdict is in: Filipino Arabica from Mt. Apo isn’t just a curiosity—it’s a revelation. Sourced from the biodiverse highlands of Mindanao, these beans challenge assumptions about what coffee can be. Roasted to a light to medium profile, they reveal a complex interplay of earthy notes and citrus brightness, proving that geography and care can elevate even imperfect raw material. The beans, a Catimor variety from the Mt. Apo region, arrived with a troubling flaw: worm holes marred their surface, reducing density and raising questions about quality. Yet, the roast test results spoke volumes. Three iterations of espresso extraction yielded…