Juicy Strawberry

Category: Innovation

Species: Arabica

Variety: Castillo, Caturra, and Colombia

Origin: Huila, Tolima and Caldas, Colombia

Producer: Blend of producers

Farm: El Vergel Estate

Altitude: 1,750 MASL

Process: Honey + co-fermented strawberry

Notes: Strawberry, red berries, brown sugar, lemon and citric acid 

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These coffees are grown by Colombian producers in the regions of Huila, Tolima and Caldas. Depending on the harvest season, cherries are selected from these different origins to ensure maximum freshness, before being transported to and processed at the family farm, El Vergel Estate.

The story began in the field in 1995, taking shape in 2010 with the start of coffee cultivation at El Vergel in Tolima, followed by the first harvests of specialty varieties in 2015. Faced with the challenges of the local market, Martha, Shady and Elias decided in 2017 to seek new ways to add value to coffee and shorten the distance between producers and roasters. This vision led to the creation of Forest Coffee in 2019, with the aim of unlocking the true potential of Colombian coffee through innovation in processing, education and sustainability. Today, the project connects a network of 250 producer families and four major initiatives in Colombia with a global community of roasters.

This particular lot perfectly reflects this experimental approach. The process begins with rigorous manual sorting, selecting only cherries at the ideal stage of ripeness and removing any impurities. The cherries then undergo a 24-hour pre-fermentation in plastic bags, followed by a further 24 hours of fermentation while still in the fruit.

After depulping, the beans undergo a five-day anaerobic co-fermentation with their own mucilage, with yeast and natural strawberry flavours added to the process. This method enhances the Honey process and intensifies the fruity notes. Finally, the coffee is mechanically dried for 10 days to ensure uniform moisture content, followed by a five-day resting period in GrainPro bags for stabilisation.

The result is a vibrant cup that masterfully reflects the dedication of Colombian producers.