Gaitania
Espresso • Sweet & chocolaty
Sweet and balanced acidity with notes of milk chocolate, nougat and stone fruit.
Producer Smallholder Producers
Region Gaitania, Tolima
Altitude 1700–1900 MASL
Variety Caturra, Typica
Process Washed
Washed process
This coffee is processed as a classic washed. Smallholder producers delivered freshly harvested cherries to cooperatives, where they were meticulously sorted to ensure only the highest quality fruit was selected for processing.
The process began with depulping the cherries to remove the outer skin. The beans, still covered in mucilage, were then transferred to fermentation tanks for a period of 12 to 36 hours. During fermentation, skilled workers closely monitored the conditions, ensuring optimal enzymatic activity while carefully preventing any risk of over-fermentation.
After fermentation, the mucilage was removed by washing the beans in clean water. This step was often performed using traditional washing channels or manual agitation, ensuring thorough removal of residues. The washed parchment coffee was then dried on raised beds, typically for 7 to 14 days, until the moisture content reached the ideal range of 10–12%.
Espresso Recipe
- Dose: 17 g
- Water Temperature: 94°C
- Yield: 42–44 g
- Total Brew Time: 30–32 sec
- TDS: 7.20 %
- Extraction Yield: 22 %
Pro Tips
- Grind Size: A finer grind increases extraction, intensifying flavour and strength. Too fine can lead to over-extraction and bitterness, while too coarse can result in under-extraction and sourness.
- Temperature: Higher temperatures enhance acidity, while lower temperatures reduce acidity, highlight sweetness, and minimize bitterness.
- Brew Ratio & Yield: To increase strength (viscosity), use a higher dose, a finer grind, or a shorter brew time. For clarity and brightness, adjust for a longer ratio or slightly coarser grind.
- Solubility: Light roasts require a finer grind and/or higher temperature to extract flavours fully. Medium-dark roasts extract more easily and may benefit from a slightly coarser grind and/or lower temperature.