Rainbow Sugarcane Decaf (Colombia)

Chocolate, caramel, clean and sweet

Region: Huila
Country: Colombia
Process: Washed, Sugarcane Decaf
Variety: Castillo & Caturra
Producer: Four smallholders
Altitude: 1700-2000m

Who says decaf can’t hit the same spot? There’s a new kid on the block from Huila, Colombia and it’s sure to tickle those tastebuds.

This is a decaf washed lot with a double fermentation process. Ripe cherries are fermented for 24 hours prior to pulping. After pulping, the coffee is further fermented for 12-48 hours in a tank, then washed with clean water. The fully washed coffee is then dried in the sun for 20-30 days on patios or in parabolic greenhouse-style dryers.

The process utilises a direct-solvent method meaning that first the beans are steamed to open their pores and are then rinsed in ethyl acetate repeatedly to remove the caffeine. Next the beans are dried but not completely, 10-12% humidity remains, and then the open bean is sealed with natural wax that in no way affects the flavour, fragrance or aroma of the coffee.

The resulting cup is floral with notes of hazelnuts, chocolate cake, bread pudding and passionfruit.