Colombia, Decaf

The Caldas Cooperative was founded in 1960 and now brings together over 3,600 partner producers, most of whom are small-scale farmers. It operates in eleven municipalities within the department and has 15 sales points and “atención al productor” centers, where producers can deposit and sell their coffee, as well as receive agricultural support and technical advice from the cooperative’s agronomists.

The Caldas region was long the country’s largest coffee producer by volume, although this title now belongs to the Huila department.

The decaffeination process uses a natural solvent. The decaffeinating agent, called ethyl acetate (EA), is derived from a blend of acetic acid (vinegar) and a distilled natural extract from sugarcane.
The beans are first steamed to open their pores, then repeatedly rinsed with ethyl acetate to remove the caffeine. Finally, the beans are dried — but not completely — to retain 10–12% moisture.

Roaster’s note: “A truly exceptional harvest”

Producer: Caldas Cooperative – 492 producers
Species: Arabica
Varieties: Castillo, Colombia, Caturra
Altitude: 1,600–1,950 m
Harvest: Hand-picked
Process: Washed