Table of contents
Castillo
$ 20+
Flavor | Low acidity with deep floral notes and natural sweetness |
Grown In | Colombia |
Castillo coffee variety comes directly from Colombia and makes a pretty interesting coffee drinking experience. Castilo coffee beans are a hybrid of the Timor and Caturra coffee beans. However, it is important to note that there is a controversy with Castillo coffee. It is corrosion-resistant, on the one hand. On the other hand, coffee specialists are concerned about the fact that Robusta–Arabica hybrids are part of their parents.
Castillo is distinguished by its smoothness, fragrance, and citrus acidity. Via blind testing and other sensory assessments, it is possible to determine that these beans have characteristics similar to Typica, Bourbon, and Caturra. Castillo coffee beans are a pretty good choice for Colombian farmers as it has the ability to produce high yields. However, not every Castillo is the same: Producers have developed six distinct varieties of Castillo to match the climatic requirements of six different locations. The main reason behind this fact is that this helps beans remain rust-resistant.
The final taste of Castillo coffee depends on a lot of different things and the process of maintaining high quality is pretty extensive. It is dependent not only on the variety, which will provide specific sensory attributes but also on the processing method, picking, drying, and the altitude. In this guide, we are going to talk about everything you need to know about Castilo coffee, including the background and top products.
Castillo has become the single most significant cultivar in Colombia in just ten years, because of its rust resistance and an integrated package of agronomic and financial incentives. It now accounts for approximately 40% of the country’s coffee lands. So, The Colombian coffee research institution, CENICAFE, created this variety in 2005 to limit the development of La Roya, a fungus that affects the leaves of coffee trees. As we already mentioned, it is a cross between Caturra and a Timor hybrid, with thick leaves that allow it to survive La Roya.
Castilo coffee is a little tree – bigger than Caturras with long sprigs, huge leaves, and enormous coffee beans. High-quality grades have not been produced in the past, but small-scale farmers, for example, increasingly experiment with natural drying processes rather than the usual washing procedure. As a consequence, some produce excellent coffee products with fine, sweet notes.
It is important to note that there is a lot of debate and Castillo mostly gets compared to Caturra – sometimes it is hard for farmers to choose between these two. What farmers choose to plant can have less influence on the quality of the cup than where they grow it and how they produce it. Cup scores are closer to environment and management than to diversity. In other words, farmers may do more than just deliberately selecting one of the following variant species to boost the quality of the cup by a more active soil and shade management, careful harvesting, and improvements in the post-harvest process.
All in all, Castillo beans are capable of producing one of the highest-quality cups of coffee and that is something that matters the most in the marketplace.
If you are intrigued by this interesting type of coffee, then it will be natural for you to be looking for Castilo coffee brands. While it is true that you can get your beans from Colombia directly, it is related to a lot of stuff including logistics, payments, etc. So, there is no need to bother much when you have an excellent alternative called Amazon. There, you can get your coffee with one simple click, and additionally, if you use Amazon Prime, you will get your product at your doorstep in less than a day, which is pretty exciting. In the list down below, you can check out the top 5 Castillo coffee brands that are available for you.
We pay attention to the following:
For more detailed information on how exactly we rate the coffee products we suggest in our guides, click here.
It will not be easy for you to find out the value of a product simply by just naming it. That’s why we decided to do individual overviews of our top choices, stating all the important facts and features about each of them. That way, you will easily make sure whether a specific Castillo coffee brand is worth your time, money, and attention.
Price: $40.46 (subject to change) |
Size: 5 pounds |
Type: Castillo |
Roast: Medium |
Producer: Fresh Roasted Coffee LLC |
Beans: Whole |
The first on our list is Fresh Roasted Colombian Supremo Castillo which is a well-balanced coffee. Within your first cup, you will be able to discover tasting notes of cherry and honey, which helps the beverage to taste somehow sweet. So, this might be the best option for people that enjoy the sweetness of the coffee.
This one is made of not only Castillo but Caturra varietal as well, meaning that you will have the privilege of tasting two high-quality coffee beans. From the bag I received, I found this brand to be incredibly full-bodied and smooth, with no bite or harshness. It’s exactly what I’ve been seeking in a Colombian Supremo, and it’s a really pleasant find. Especially because it’s much less expensive than other coffees that don’t taste as good to me. One 5-Pound package of this Castillo coffee variety costs $40.46, which is a pretty good price for the quality that you get. The bag is pretty big and the packaging is also impressive – it has all the necessary information (roast date, coffee type, origin, etc) indicated on it.
Additionally, beans are delivered in a fresh manner. From what I have seen, this coffee was able to maintain its freshness for quite a long time (6 months, specifically). It’s become smoother and more mellow with age, but it’s still as powerful as when I first opened the bag.
Price: $26.99 (subject to change) |
Size: 12 ounces |
Type: Castillo |
Roast: Medium |
Producer: Lina Premium |
Beans: Whole |
Lina Premium Tropical Castillo is a medium-bodied coffee with unique citrus and fragrant passion fruit tastes. Before we talk more about the coffee itself, I feel the need to mention the brand behind it as well. The best thing about this product is that it is created by a company with a cause. Lina Premium does not only provide dental health care but also helps with medical and social issues that rural Colombian agricultural families badly require. So, by purchasing Castillo coffee beans, you will not only provide a lot to yourself but will also support Colombian families. Sounds exciting, right?
However, things do not end here. The coffee itself also tastes amazing. I would recommend preparing it with a pour-over method which produces the best possible taste. It also tastes pretty good in a form of cold brew. It does not mean that you should only stick with these two techniques – you are free to experiment and find the taste that suits your preferences the best.
Other than taste, the packaging is also very beautiful. It is able to keep your beans fresh for a long period of time. A 12-ounce package costs $26.99 – the price can easily be justified by a great cause and the overall quality of this exceptional coffee.
Price: $33.75 (subject to change) |
Size: 5 pounds |
Type: Castillo |
Roast: Unroasted |
Producer: Smokin Beans |
Beans: Whole |
Unroasted Castillo is a coffee made by Smokin Beans. These premium green coffee beans come with hints of cherry and tones of chocolate. They are grown in Colombia at altitudes ranging somewhere between 4,500-5,500 feet. More specifically, Colombia Supremo is supplied from small to medium-sized family-owned farms in the department of Risaralda near the city of Pereira. This Colombian coffee is grown on plantations averaging 2.5 hectares in size.
My favorite thing about this product is that green coffee beans may be stored for a lifetime, unlike roasted coffee, which begins to deteriorate in quality practically before it reaches the shop. The difference is quite noticeable after roasting and drinking several pounds of home-roasted coffee. All in all, if you enjoy good coffee and don’t mind putting a little effort into making your own high-quality cup, then these unroasted Castillo coffee beans are a great choice.
A 5-pound package of this coffee comes with $33.75 which is a very good price, however, this might be due to the fact that beans are unroasted and you actually have to spend more time preparing it than you would do on other occasions.
Price: $22.46 (subject to change) |
Size: 12 ounces |
Type: Castillo |
Roast: Medium |
Producer: Cafe San Alberto |
Beans: Whole |
San Alberto Castillo coffee beans come exclusively from San Alberto Estate – a land rich in nutrients and water springs located between 4,900 and 5,900 feet, creating a unique and distinct environment to produce some of the best Castillo coffee beans. San Alberto is an unusual blend of two arabica varieties: Arabica Caturra and Arabica Castillo, so with this product, you will be able to taste not only one but two different varieties.
From what I have tasted, I can say that its subtle fruit-like acidity and harmonic balance, reminiscent of caramel and velvety dark chocolate, stand out, producing a unique and exquisite character in your mouth. Another good thing is that these beans are in complete harmony with nature. San Alberto is made using a proprietary technique known as the Five-Step Selection Process, which involves a series of labor-intensive choices to ensure that only the finest tastes of each crop make it into the mix.
One drawback of this product can be the fact that is a little bit stronger than one might be expecting. So, if you are someone who does not enjoy a strong coffee, then this one might not be the best option for you. However, the aroma of coffee is exceptionally good and the tastes are also pretty complex.
Price: $38.95 (subject to change) |
Size: 5 pounds |
Type: Castillo |
Roast: Unroasted |
Producer: Toro’s Gourmet Coffee |
Beans: Whole |
And we finish our list with unroasted supremo Castillo. This one also comes directly from Colombia, more specifically from farm Santa Helena. Within your cup of coffee, you are going to discover notes of caramel, sweet fruit, and citrus. The plants are grown at high altitudes ranging somewhere between 5,200-5,500 ft.
So, this one comes in a form of unroasted beans, meaning that you have to roast them yourself. This means that you can actually manage everything about your coffee including its roast type. Keep in mind that if you are roasting for the first time, then the first cup might not be as good as you might be expecting – Roasting becomes better with more practice so stick to it.
I have to admit that although the coffee does not taste bad, I was not impressed with the overall quality. Considering the fact that there are other brands producing a similar product with less prices, I was expecting something better. For instance, the packaging was not impressive at all. All in all, the product still comes out as satisfactory in the end.