All of our limited-edition, whole-bean Small Lot Coffees are special in some way, and Trader Joe’s Arroyo Bonito Estate Dominican Republic Coffee is no exception. As its name would suggest, the beans come to us from the Arroyo Bonito Estate, located at about 4,500 feet above sea level in the D.R.’s mountainous, central region. There, the coffee plants thrive in the fertile mountain soil, under a canopy of pine, macadamia, and guava trees. The farm is owned and operated by a family with over 30 years of coffee cultivation experience who—following their own unique, natural, wine-like process—allow the beans to over-ripen just a bit before harvest, resulting in a higher sugar concentration. The sweet, coffee cherries are dried in the sun for 21 days, then milled very slowly to thoroughly crack the outer husks. Finally, they’re set aside to “rest” an additional 30 days before being sent stateside to be roasted. The whole process yields a well-balanced cup of 100% Arabica, medium-roast coffee with a nice “wine-y” taste and notes of dried cherry, raisin and plum.