Forget about bland and unremarkable decaf coffees. This Red Bourbon from Colombia from Blind Monkey Roasters offers a level of clarity and complexity that is an absolute rarity in this category. In the cup, you’ll be immediately captivated by the juicy, sweet flavors of peaches and the iconic cherry cola notes. The entire flavor profile rests on a deep foundation of cane sugar. The coffee is lightly roasted, but due to a specific decaffeination process, the beans may appear slightly darker than you’d expect. The result is a clean, expressive, and perfectly balanced cup.
Behind this coffee marvel is the internationally renowned producer Wilton Benitez, one of Colombia’s most celebrated growers, whose coffees regularly shine on the world’s competitive stages. Wilton combines his more than 26 years of experience as a roaster, Q-grader, and processor with a rigorously scientific approach. The coffee trees grow in the Piendamó region (Cauca department) at an elevation of 1,900 meters above sea level. Harvesting is done by hand when the cherries are fully ripe, and the cherries are sterilized with ozonated water and UV light prior to processing to ensure an absolutely clean environment for subsequent fermentation.
The unique flavor profile is the result of the sophisticated Double Fermentation Washed method. The cherries first undergo an initial 48-hour fermentation with selected yeast cultures. This is followed by a second, 68-hour fermentation, this time in the coffee’s own natural juices. After washing and slow drying at low temperatures, the coffee undergoes natural decaffeination using the Sugarcane Decaf method (which employs ethyl acetate derived from sugarcane). This gentle process reliably removes caffeine while fully locking in all the refined sweetness, fruitiness, and acidity within the bean.