Tasting Notes: Sweet, Toffee, Lemon, Mellow
Processing method: Washed, Sugarcane E.A. Process Decaffeination
For many years, Colombia was the number-one world producer of washed coffees, and the second-largest producer to Brazil. In 2000, Colombia was surpassed by Vietnam, and then the rust infestation of 2008 set them back significantly. Today they are currently in the top five of coffee production with roughly 10 million bags per year. Colombian farmers and citizens alike drink a lot of coffee every day; nearly 20% of their annual production. Colombia has over 600,000 farms, most of them farmed by small landholders with less than 5 acres nestled in the hills at roughly 1,200 to 2,000 meters above sea level.
Colombian Coffees are commonly known to be big, rich, chocolaty coffees with exceptional fragrance and often great acidity. Colombia has many diverse growing regions, so the coffee varies mildly from region to region. Tropical fruit, vanilla, caramel, and chocolate are common adjectives. More intense acidity and bigger velvety body are variations you might find going from south to north as well.
Through the sugarcane ethyl acetate decaffeination process many of these delicious tasting notes are able to stay intact (see diagram for decaffeination process)
