A favourite returns. A sugarcane decaf from Colombian smallholder farmers with notes of chocolate, brown sugar and red apple.

Most decaf begins with lower grade green coffee, the assumption being that the decaffeination process will mask the difference. Tumbaga starts the other way around. Sourced from smallholder farmers across Cauca, Tolima, Antioquia and the Eje Cafetero region, the green coffee is selected specifically for high body and natural sweetness before decaffeination begins.

The farms are small, between one and four and a half hectares on average and harvest times rotate across Colombia's regions throughout the year. That rotation is what allows a consistent profile all year round, which matters when you're relying on a decaf as a permanent fixture on an espresso machine.

The name Tumbaga comes from a Colombian gold and silver alloy used throughout history to make objects of significance, chosen because it represents balance between opposites. That's a reasonable description of what a good decaf should be: all the character, none of the caffeine.

More about this coffee

Tasting notes: Chocolate, brown sugar, red apple
Process: Sugarcane Decaf
Producer: Smallholder farmers across Cauca, Tolima, Antioquia and Eje Cafetero
Location: Cauca, Tolima, Antioquia and Eje Cafetero in Colombia
Elevation: 1400 - 2100 masl 
Variety: Mixed

Best for

Espresso Machine, French Press

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