Beansmith.s presents NOGALES, a decaffeinated coffee that retains a full-bodied, layered, and naturally sweet flavor even without caffeine. In the cup, it unfolds a balanced combination of mandarin, panela, and banana, complemented by a medium, pleasantly juicy acidity. Thanks to the traditional Typica variety and the mosto method, this coffee tastes surprisingly fruity and clean—so much so that few would guess it’s decaf. With a cupping score of 88, it ranks among the most distinctive decaf lots of the season and offers a juicy, sweet, and very elegant profile when brewed with a filter.
The origins of this coffee trace back to the Los Nogales family farm in Bruselas, Colombia, led by the energetic innovator Oscar Hernández. His family is an integral part of the region’s history—his father, Ricaurte, helped put Bruselas on the specialty coffee map when he won the Cup of Excellence in 2006. Today, Oscar continues the family tradition while also moving the farm toward a modern and sustainable approach. At Los Nogales, their philosophy rests on three pillars: respect for the soil and regenerative agriculture, working with diverse coffee plant genetics, and bridging the gap between science and practice. Thanks to this, the farm has become a hub of innovation that inspires farmers throughout the region while producing exceptional lots with precise sensory profiles.
The unique character of this coffee is achieved through the “decaf mosto” method, which combines traditional washing with a natural decaffeination process. After hand-sorting and fermentation, the beans are dried on raised beds and hulled; they are then immersed twice in a 40 °C hot bath and subsequently macerated in coffee cherry juice—the “mosto.” This step imparts a distinct sweetness and fruitiness to the coffee, as the substances contained in the pulp are naturally absorbed into the beans. After a final wash and five days of drying, the result is a decaf that tastes like full-bodied filtered coffee: sweet, juicy, and exceptionally clean. Nogales Decaf is thus an example of how an innovative approach can transform decaffeinated coffee into a fascinating taste experience.
- Farm: Nogales
- Elevation: 1, 600–2,000 m above sea level