Where in the world?
REGION
Huila
FARM
7 Producers, Decaffeination by Azahar
ALTITUDE
1600-1900 MASL
VARIETY
Castillo, Colombia, Caturra and Bourbon
PROCESS
Washed & Sugarcane Decaffeination
TASTING NOTES
Golden Syrup, Nougat, Red Apple
What’s the story?
This is an exceptional Colombian coffee from Huila, that produces a heavy unctuous espresso with layers of syrupy sweetness and pleasing soft background red apple acidity…oh and it’s decaffeinated.
During the pandemic, we saw our web sales increase dramatically as people realised they needed their regular hit of speciality coffee, and this also led to a big demand for decaf, as people were drinking copious amounts of coffee at home to help power though home working, schooling or just generally getting by. Azahar Coffee responded by creating their first decaf.
From the world renowned Huila region in South West Colombia, the Azahar Coffee Company have combined coffees from seven expert producers, “pioneros”, coffee farmer pioneers who are driving standards in post collection processing techniques. Taking exceptional coffees and then using their own all natural decaffeination process keeps the money in the local economy and all the flavour in the cup.
The decaffeination is done at the Decafecol plant in Manizales, using natural solvent made up of a combination of a natural extract from sugar cane, beets, blackberries and vinegar. The beans are steamed, washed in the natural solvent to remove the caffeine then dried to 10-12% moisture, as they would have been before the process.
What we then have is a beautiful decaff to roast, that releases its sweetness really easily, resulting in a coffee that is extremely satisfying to brew, rich and deeply sweet, balanced with a soft red apple acidity, which if we were going to be picky is more like sweet apple skin, but we only feel comfortable taking flavour descriptions so far!
It’s a perfect coffee for a late afternoon flat white or after dinner french press
Brewing Recipe

ESPRESSO:
Dose: 18 grms
Yield: 36 grms
Time: 30 secs
Flavours we found: Golden Syrup with a hint of nougat and hazelnuts.

FILTER:
Brew Method: Aeropress
Dose: 16 grms
Brew water: 300 grms
Time: 3:45 mins
Flavours we found: Super clean, Caramel, Toffee with Red Apple acidity.