Archival Release #63 - Ratnagiri Carbonic Washed - 2023

In anticipation of some special Indian coffees we’re releasing later this month, we felt inspired to revisit this uniquely processed lot from the 2023–24 harvest at Ratnagiri Estate in India.

The ‘Carbonic Washed’ process featured in this lot begins with cherries that are precisely harvested based on Brix measurements before being sorted, pulped, and fermented in flushed stainless steel tanks for an impressive 92 hours. Once fermentation has broken down the remaining mucilage from the seed coat, the coffee is given a final fresh-water soak before being dried on raised beds.

Oftentimes, we find that coffees fermented for this long can present vinegar-like or even rotten fruit flavors. However, Mr. Ashok’s careful attention to detail has allowed him to push fermentation times with precise control, resulting in coffees with delicate sweetness and often distinct fruit-forward profiles. In this lot, we taste an array of such flavors, including strawberry and kiwi in the cup, along with vanilla wafer cookie and honeydew melon in the finish.

Archival Release #63 - Ratnagiri Carbonic Washed - 2023 represents a distinct offering from the Ratnagiri Estate in India, produced by Mr. Ashok. This lot utilizes a carbonic washed process, a technique that involves fermenting coffee cherries in a carbon dioxide-rich environment to influence the final cup profile. Generally, processing methods like this are employed to enhance specific acidity and sweetness profiles, often resulting in vibrant, fruit-forward characteristics. When evaluating such complex profiles, referencing a flavor wheel can help identify the nuanced interplay between the strawberry, kiwi, vanilla wafer cookie, and honeydew melon notes noted by the roaster. As part of the Passenger Coffee catalog, this release highlights the ongoing experimentation with post-harvest techniques at the estate level. By controlling the fermentation atmosphere, producers can push the boundaries of traditional washed coffees, offering a unique sensory experience that bridges the gap between classic regional profiles and modern processing innovation.