Coffee trends in Colombia
Colombia has been at the forefront of coffee cultivation for about a decade now. Our observation began in 2015, when new fermentation techniques such as Carbonic Maceration and slow shade drying began taking place in Colombia. Ten years later, there are a myriad of processing methods that can confuse even the most seasoned professionals as producers collaborate with agronomists and fermentation experts to continue pushing the boundaries of coffee.
"Modern Washed"
This month, we’re excited to showcase 3 unique coffees from 3 farms in Colombia; each unique cultivar underwent a standard processing protocol developed by our supplier Cofinet, which we call “Modern Washed”. Essentially, whole cherries are soaked & fermented underwater for 30 hours before they are pulped. We believe that this keeps the cherries in a stable environment, which is less susceptible to temperature changes. This also promotes a gentle fermentation, similar to how “Classic” Ethiopian coffees are wet fermented. Afterwards, the pulp is removed and the seeds are then rinsed to remove excess mucilage. By this stage, the seeds would have absorbed the volatile compounds created during the fermentation process, so rinsing off the mucilage ensures a cleaner cup profile compared to if it were left on.
Our take on "Modern Washed" Colombian Coffees
After experiencing multiple coffees that had undergone this processing technique, we’re confident to say this is one of our favourite versions of washed coffees! The cup profiles tend to be more distinct, with clean & sweet flavours upfront. 
The Typica from Patio Bonito boasts notes of stewed cherries, whilst the Papayo from La Divisa features soft poached pears. The 3rd showcase is a Pink Bourbon from Santa Monica, owned by Jairo Arcila. This is by far one of our favourites, with distinct blackberry sweetness! We believe this processing protocol really reveals another dimension to the coffees as we find them more aromatic as well versus the usual.
We look forward to seeing more of these “Modern Washed” coffees, as the producers have typically gravitated to the more fruity & processed-driven flavour profiles. Whilst these do have their fair share of fans in the market, we truly prize the clean, juicy & vibrant washed coffees of Colombia. We are incredibly glad to see a resurgence in these profiles & hope to share more with you soon!