Strawberries, raspberries, and tropical fruits. This Colombian coffee from the Czech roaster Krok certainly has no shortage of fruity flavors. Nogales Red Fruit Passion captivates with its distinctly juicy profile, in which the sweet notes of ripe strawberries and raspberries blend with an exotic hint of tropical fruit. The result is a vibrant, pleasantly sweet, and intensely fruity cup that will delight lovers of bolder filtered coffees in particular. Its character stems not only from the carefully selected Tabi variety but also from the processing method, which allows the fruity flavors ample room to shine.
The coffee comes from the family-run Los Nogales farm, located in the village of El Diamante near the town of Bruselas in Colombia’s Huila region. Its history dates back to around 1940, and today it is run by Oscar Hernández, a third-generation coffee grower. His father, Ricaurte Hernández, was also a prominent figure; in 2006, he won the Colombian Cup of Excellence and helped raise the profile of the entire region. Oscar continues the family tradition by emphasizing innovation and sustainability. On the farm, they use organic humus made from coffee residues, experiment with different varieties, and combine farmers’ experience with scientific knowledge.
The Tabi variety underwent natural processing, which typically enhances pronounced fruitiness, sweetness, and a fuller flavor profile. With this method, the coffee is dried in contact with the pulp of the coffee cherries, whose sugars and other compounds contribute to the beans’ final character. At the Los Nogales farm, rigorous quality control begins with the hand-picking of ripe cherries and their subsequent sorting in water. Carefully controlled fermentation and slow drying—which can take up to 21 days for some micro-lots—are also key parts of the process. It is precisely this meticulous approach to every step that helps create coffees with a distinctive flavor profile.
- Producer: Oscar Hernández
- Farm: Los Nogales, El Diamante
- Award: Ricaurte Hernández, winner of the 2006 Colombian Cup of Excellence