Freak & Unique V | Colombia | Diego Samuel PO2 | Coffee Only

CHILDHOOD MEMORIES IN A GROWN-UP CUP. A STRAWBERRY SWEET TREAT TO KNOCK YOU OFF YOUR FEET. STUFF YOUR FACE WITH A STRAWBERRY BOOTLACE.

Our very limited series, Freak & Unique continues with this strawberry wonder from Diego Samuel.

FARM:Diego Samuel Bermudez REGION: El Tambo, Cauca ALTITUDE: 1700 - 1950 MASL VARIETAL: Castillo PROCESS: Extended Fermentation, Washed

 

As part of a tight knit family, Diego Samuel works on his farm in Cauca with his wife, two daughters and two brothers. Together they are involved in the pursuit of continual learning and striving to achieve the next level with their processing. They built their own lab on the farm to firstly understand about cupping and roasting so they could then start to curate their own fermentation protocols for them to begin experimenting with. These experiments and novel approach to coffee have allowed to him to soar and exceed, winning several awards since 2015.

Covering 27ha of land, the Villa Esperanza - Paraiso farm focuses on technology and the critical and intricate processes that go into producing coffee of this calibre. Fine tuned detail is put into the selection through to the drying processes, which are done in a way that mitigates the changeable climatic conditions, allowing them to replicate coffees of such high standards every season.

This unique coffee has undergone a detailed and meticulous process leading to the exquisite results in the cup that achieve its full potential.

The cherries are fermented anaerobically for 28 hours. The coffee is then pulped before further anaerobic fermentation with mucilage for 40 hours. It’s then thermic shock washed, which sees it being washed at 40oC and then again in cold water at 12oC. The beans then undergo controlled drying for 28 hours at 42oC until they reach a grain moisture of 10-11%. The resulting cup is a sweet and fruity throwback to the bubblegum and strawberry bootlaces in your pic n’ mix.

Produced by Diego Samuel Bermudez in the El Tambo region of Cauca, the Freak & Unique V represents a meticulous approach to modern coffee production. This lot features the Castillo varietal, a plant widely recognized for its resilience and adaptability. While Colombia is traditionally associated with balanced, washed profiles, this specific coffee undergoes an extended fermentation process. Such processing methods are increasingly utilized by producers to push the boundaries of traditional flavor profiles, often resulting in heightened aromatic intensity and distinct fruit-forward characteristics, such as the strawberry notes identified by Hundred House Coffee.

When evaluating coffees with such specialized processing, it is helpful to consult a flavor wheel to better categorize the complex sensory experience. By combining the structural reliability of the Castillo varietal with innovative fermentation techniques, this coffee offers a unique perspective on the evolving landscape of Colombian specialty production.