Notes: Milk Chocolate, Cherry, Smooth
Roast: Medium
Process: Washed
Varietals: Castillo, Caturra, Colombia
This sugarcane decaf lot from Azahar Coffee Company was sourced from 7 producers across 4 municipalities in Huila, some of Azahar’s longest lasting producer-partner relationships.
Like all of Azahar’s decaf coffees, this lot was decaffeinated at the Decafecol plant in Manizales, in the department of Caldas. The decaffeination process utilized by Descafecol is a solvent-based process meaning that the caffeine is removed from the coffee beans using a solvent. The decaffeination agent used is ethyl acetate (also known as ethyl alcohol) and is derived from a mix of acetic acid (vinegar) and a natural extract distilled from sugar cane, blackberries, beets or sometimes grapes. 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 flavor, fragrance or aroma of the coffee.