Decaf - Colombia - Cauca

Country: Colombia
Region: Cauca
Variety: Caturra, Colombia, Typica
Flavor Profile
Roasted Nuts, Citrus, Sweet
–

Country
Colombia

Region
Cauca

Farm
Smallholder Farms

Variety
Caturra, Colombia, Typica

Process
Washed; EA Decaf

Elevation
1900 meters


Farm info
This regional blend ethyl acetate decaf coffee was sourced from smallholder producers
throughout Colombia’s Cauca region. Caturra, Colombia, and Typica coffees underwent
traditional Washed processing and were dried in parabolic dryers before being decaffeinated by
Descafecol at their facility in Cauca.
Ethyl acetate is produced by esterification between ethyl alcohol—which is derived from the
fermentation of sugar cane—and acetic acid. Descafecol uses only ethyl acetate and high
mountain spring water in their decaffeination process. The green coffee is submerged in a wash
of water and ethyl acetate, during which the ethyl acetate bonds with the caffeine in the coffee
and begins to extract it from the green seeds. The EA solution is flushed and the process is
repeated until reaching a minimum decaffeination level of 97%. Finally, the green coffee is
steamed to remove any remaining ethyl acetate from the seeds.

Region
Cauca
The Colombian department of Cauca lies in the southwestern part of the country, with the
Pacific Ocean to the west, Valle del Cauca Department to the north, Tolima Department to the
northeast, Huila Department to the east, and Nariño, Putumayo, and Caqueta Departments to
the south. Many rivers traverse Cauca and the Central Range of the Andes Mountains runs
through the department. Popayan is the capital city and Cauca’s population is distributed
throughout the rural highlands and valleys.
Coffee producers here are mainly smallholder farmers with less than 1.5 hectares of land and
4000–6000 coffee trees in production on average. The soil in the region is fertile due to volcanic
ash, and the weather is filled with warm days and cool nights due to winds blowing from the
paramo, high plateaus in the area’s mountains. These factors all contribute to the region’s
classic cup profile, delicate and balanced with hints of confection-like sweetness.
Reference
https://www.allycoffee.com/coffees/cauca-sugar-cane-process-decaf/#:~:text=The%20green%2
0coffee%20is%20submerged,minimum%20decaffeination%20level%20of%2097%25.