Colombia Sugarcane Decaf Coffee

Our Colombian Sugarcane decaf offering is special in more ways than one: First, it’s been cupped specifically for its quality and sourced by single-origin, either region or farm. We call it Sugarcane Decaf because it’s custom decaffeinated in Colombia, using a special, natural process that utilises ethyl acetate (E.A.) derived from fermented sugar cane.

The process works by soaking steamed green coffee beans in a solution of E.A, a naturally occurring compound derived from fermented sugarcane, which bonds to the salts of chlorogenic acid in the coffee and allows for the removal of caffeine. The coffee is removed from the solution and steamed again at low pressure to remove any traces of E.A. inside the beans, and the finished product retains its flavour integrity but contains almost no caffeine at all. (The beans will contain a maximum of 0.01–0.03% caffeine.)

The most important part of EA coffee, and why it tastes so sweet, is it avoids high pressure and high heat, which degrades coffee quickly. This allows the natural flavours to shine through, making it the sweet and bright decaf that we so love.

Located in southwestern Colombia, Huila is nestled in-between the Central and Eastern ranges of the Andes, with the middle area called the Magdalena Valley. The variation in elevation results in Huila being one of the country's most unique and complex regions of coffee production. Its terroir, climate, and harvest cycles all contribute to the quality of coffee produced here. The most impressive quality behind the coffees coming out of Huila lies in the people producing them. While Huila accounts for nearly 20% of the country's production, 80% of coffee producers operate on less than three hectares.

Colombia’s reputation as a specialty coffee-producing powerhouse is well known and well deserved. Overall the world’s third largest coffee exporting country, Colombia tops the charts when it comes to arabica, with over 11 million bags produced every year.

Colombia's mountainous terrain and diverse microclimates makes it an ideal place for coffee to thrive, and also allows for distinct variations in taste profile depending on the region, farm, and sometimes even plots of specific farms.

More than half a million families grow coffee in the country, most on farms of two hectares or less. The Federación Nacional de Cafeteros de Colombia (FNC), created in 1927, oversees the industry on a national level, with cooperatives and smaller farmer's unions operating regionally.

Colombia’s reputation as a specialty coffee-producing powerhouse is well known and well deserved. Overall the world’s third largest coffee exporting country, Colombia tops the charts when it comes to arabica, with over 11 million bags produced every year.

First cultivated in the country in the 18th century, coffee production began in earnest in 1808 and has played an important part in the country’s economy ever since. Most coffee in Colombia is grown by small farmers—60 percent of producers cultivate less than one hectare of coffee, while less than one percent have more than 20 hectares.

Colombia's mountainous terrain and diverse microclimates makes it an ideal place for coffee to thrive, and also allows for distinct variations in taste profile depending on the region, farm, and sometimes even plots of specific farms.

More than half a million families grow coffee in the country, most on farms of two hectares or less. The Federación Nacional de Cafeteros de Colombia (FNC), created in 1927, oversees the industry on a national level, with cooperatives and smaller farmer's unions operating regionally.

The FNC was created to defend the interests of its owners, the small-scale farmers who produce the bulk of the country's coffee, as well as to promote the production and exportation of Colombian coffee more generally.

Castillo, named for the researcher Jamie Castillo who helped develop the variety in 2005, is resistant to leaf rust and has quickly become the most planted coffee in Colombia. Coffee leaf rust (la roya in Spanish) has impacted coffee growing in Colombia, among many other countries, and remains a looming threat as the planet heats.

Did you know?

• The FNC is well known for its classic Juan Valdez marketing campaign, wherein an actor portraying a coffee farmer (alongside his mule, Conchita) extols the virtues of Colombian coffee. It has spawned many offshoots and parodies, as well as an international chain of cafes.
• The Coffee Triangle, comprising four departments including the northern part of Tolima, was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2011.
• Parque del Café (Coffee Park) is a theme park devoted to coffee located in the department of Quindío. Owned by the FNC, it features a museum and exhibitions as well as an amusement park and animatronic show.

Our speciality coffees are 100% traceable and ethically sourced. We work direct with farmers, or through trusted partners, to bring you the best coffee from around the world.

Sourced in partnership with: Cafe Imports
Producer relationship length: Since 2022