Decaf Elias & Shady Bayter

Producers: Elias & Shady Bayter - El Vergel State
Origin: Fresno, Tolima, Colombia
Elevation: 1450 MASL
Variety: Red & Yellow Caturra
Process: EA Sugarcane Decaf Washed
Roast Level: Light
Importer: Forest Green Coffee
Flavor Notes: Starfruit, Panela, Rooibos, Jasmine, Citrus

#DOPEDECAF has landed for that late night sipper or for my caffeine sensitive peeps! Super thrilled to be rolling out this banger from Pablo and the good folks at Forrest Green Coffee Developers. When Pablo sent me samples some months back I hit him up for some decaf as I know Forest Green Coffee is known for some truly exceptional decafs and ooweee, this coffee had me triple take to make sure I didn’t accidentally switch up the samples… Sweetness for days, complex, bright, and balanced… check it:

This coffee was produced by Elias and his brother Shady Bayter on their farm El Vergel State which sits at 1450 meters in the town of Fresno, in Tolima, Colombia. They planted some catimore, and red and yellow caturra varieties as their first steps into coffee production and the crop took off.  With some guidance from Miguel Jimenez, they planted some more specialty focused varieties and their reputation and name started to grow year on year.  From here, they started tinkering with processing, from naturals, to fermentation modulation, to Koji Ferments, the Bayter family has really made an impact on our current specialty scene.  

The EA Decaf lot we have here is nothing short of dynamite!  The process starts with the Bayter's meticulously picked Red & Yellow Caturra which then undergo a proprietary fermentation process to enhance the fruit notes of the coffee.  Post fermentation, the coffee is placed into circular containers, where water and ethyl acetate (naturally derived byproduct of sugarcane production) create a coffee spa day.  The beans chill in the solution as the ethyl acetate works its magic bringing caffeine levels to a precise 0.1%.   

In the cup you'll truly question whether this coffee is decaf or not.  I got hit with a medley of citrus notes a la starfruit that are balanced out by sweet sweet panela, and backing florals throughout.  The finish is ever so slightly nutty and deeply sweet a la rooibos tea. You may very well find yourself wanting to brew this at all times of day - grab a bag and see just how great decaf coffee can be.