When we first tasted this coffee during a cupping, we couldn’t believe it was a decaf. Seriously — no exaggeration. This decaffeinated coffee from Finca Nogales is a beautiful reminder that decaf can be incredibly fun and full of flavor, sometimes even more so than regular coffee. That’s exactly why this lot truly deserves its limited edition status.
Behind Finca Nogales stands Oscar Hernández, a third-generation coffee producer carrying on a strong family legacy. His father, Ricaurte Hernández, helped put the town of Bruselas on the specialty coffee map after winning the Colombian Cup of Excellence in 2006. Today, Oscar continues to push the farm forward — experimenting, sharing knowledge with the local community, and turning Nogales into a place where tradition meets innovation. This lot was grown at an altitude of 1,770 meters above sea level and includes approximately 6,000 Caturra trees. Thanks to its position, the plot is protected from harsh midday sun while still receiving plenty of afternoon light, creating ideal conditions for slow cherry ripening and the development of natural sweetness — absolutely crucial for high-quality decaf.
Everything begins with careful handpicking of perfectly ripe cherries. After harvest, the cherries are floated in water to remove any unripe or defective fruit. This is followed by a 24-hour fermentation and thorough washing, after which the coffee is dried on raised beds under the sun. Once dried, the parchment is hulled and only the Excelso grade is selected. The quality and cleanliness of the green coffee at this stage are essential, as they determine how well the coffee will handle the next — very delicate — step: decaffeination.
Caffeine removal is carried out using an exceptionally gentle process. The beans are repeatedly immersed in hot water to release the caffeine, after which a natural solvent derived from coffee pulp or husk is used to selectively remove it without stripping away flavor compounds. After careful washing, the coffee is dried for approximately five more days. The result is a decaf that retains its natural sweetness, round body, and clarity, without any flat or dull character.
