Freak & Unique V | Colombia | Diego Samuel PO2 with Framed Artwork

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. This coffee comes with a limited edition framed screenprint by Toucan Tango.

FARM:Diego Samuel Bermudez REGION: El Tambo, Cauca ALTITUDE: 1700 - 1950 MASL VARIETAL: Castillo PROCESS: Extended Fermentation, Washed ARTWORK: Freak & Unique V by Toucan Tango. Screenprint on 350gsm natural uncoated card, edition of 100, 2021

 

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 coffee cultivation. This lot features the Castillo varietal, a plant widely recognized for its resilience and adaptability across the diverse landscapes of Colombia. By utilizing an extended fermentation washed process, the producer pushes the boundaries of traditional preparation to influence the final cup profile, which Hundred House Coffee highlights with distinct notes of strawberry.

Understanding the impact of processing methods is essential when exploring such experimental lots, as these techniques often amplify specific aromatic compounds. While Castillo is frequently valued for its consistency, the specific handling of this harvest demonstrates how post-harvest innovation can transform a familiar varietal. For those looking to better articulate these complex profiles, referencing a flavor wheel can be a helpful tool in identifying the nuanced characteristics present in this unique Colombian offering.