Spiced Melons from Sumo Coffee Roasters is a Colombian Caturra that comes across as juicy, sweet, and a bit unexpected in the cup. The flavor profile combines watermelon, cantaloupe, apricot, and papaya with delicate floral notes and a slightly herbal undertone, accented by a hint of aji chili. As a result, this is not just a sweet, fruity coffee, but a cup with a pleasant tension, freshness, juiciness, and a subtly spicy finish.
The coffee comes from Colombia, specifically the Tolima region, from the El Vergel farm. Behind the production are Shady and Elias Bayter, who are among the leading names in contemporary Colombian specialty coffee. The Bayter family began farming in 1995, started growing coffee in 2010, and harvested their first specialty varieties in 2015. After experiencing the instability of the local market, they decided to invest more in quality, innovation, and direct partnerships with roasters. In 2019, the Forest Coffee project was launched to help connect Colombian producers with roasters around the world. Today, El Vergel functions not only as a production farm but also as a facility for processing development, quality control, and ensuring precise traceability of origin.
The variety is Caturra, and the coffee grows at an altitude of 1,750 meters above sea level. The processing method is washed double thermoshock with yeast. In practice, this is a highly controlled process that works with fermentation, temperature, and microorganisms to highlight the coffee’s purity, stability, and specific flavor profile. Thermoshock helps influence the fermentation process through temperature changes, while yeast contributes to a more precise and pronounced aroma.