Imagine a multiverse of fermented coffees. One common base, one farm, one harvest—yet four distinct “universes” into which the coffee can travel. That’s exactly how the Fermentation Project works, led by Lucia Solis, James Hoffmann, and Caravela. In this set, you’ll find four versions of San Miguel Urias coffee from Guatemala—the first unfermented, the second wild-fermented, the third fermented using Lactobacillus bacteria, and the fourth using Saccharomyces yeast. The goal isn’t just to find your favorite, but mainly to discover how significantly the processing method alone can change the character of a single coffee bean.
All four coffees come from Finca San Miguel Urias, located in Guatemala’s Antigua Valley, between the towns of Ciudad Vieja and San Miguel Dueñas. The farm is owned by Hector and Lilian Leal and operates as part of Rueda Farms. The coffee blend consists of approximately 85% Caturra, 15% H1, and a small percentage of Bourbon. It is precisely the combination of these varieties and the conditions of the Antigua region that form the common foundation of the entire experiment. Lucia Solis, who specializes in fermentation and helps producers use microbiology to create more stable and reproducible flavor profiles, worked closely on the processing.
And now for the journey itself through these different worlds. The first lot underwent mechanical mucilage removal without fermentation and serves as a control sample, allowing us to understand the coffee’s character without the influence of fermentation. The second lot was fermented for 48 hours using naturally occurring microorganisms—a method known as wild fermentation. The third coffee also underwent a 48-hour fermentation, this time with the addition of Lactobacillus bacteria, which promotes the formation of organic acids and influences the brightness and complexity of the cup. The final variant was fermented for 48 hours using Saccharomyces yeast, which promotes the formation of flavor precursors and can primarily influence the body and complexity of the coffee. Four cups, one base, and four different results— a bit like the Marvel Multiverse, except instead of Spider-Men, you’ve got Guatemala. 🕷️☕