We only receive deliveries of these coffee beans once per week, so you may need to wait up to a week for dispatch.
Our friends at Truth Coffee Roasting are on quite a roll at the moment with their limited releases. We've had a whole string of delicious experimental lots from some of Colombia's celebrity coffee producers and this one bodes to be no less exciting than its predecessors.
Julio Madrid is one of those names that elicits groupie-like excitement in specialty coffee fanatics. He is one of a handful of Colombian coffee producers who have firmly embraced innovation in the processing space and employed techniques that buck with convention and yield incredible flavour experiences.
One such approach to processing is co-fermentation. Perhaps the most controversial method out there (at least at the moment), it involves using cultures of other fruits in the fermentation of the coffee, as described by Truth in a little more detail below. While some believe that co-fermentation might be a step too far away from the flavour of the coffee, no one can argue about the impact of the approach on the coffee's flavour.
We're excited to try this latest special release and we think you should be too. Please bear in mind that these tend to only be available for a few weeks before they run out!
Phaedon's tasting notes
My friend Jose, who imported this coffee, deserves a nail-on-the-head award for this flavour note: gin & tonic with a slice of lemon. It may sound whacky, but I couldn't stop tasting it once that had been incepted. It's a result of the cocktail (pun intended) of characteristics that this quirky and delicious coffee offers. There is a definite citrus note, quite reminiscent of lemon rind. There's an effervescence to the mouthfeel. There's a very distinct floral aroma, and a subtle but pleasant, balanced hint of bitterness on the finish. It's exactly the kind of flavour profile that makes a G&T a summer favourite.
To be clear, there is no gin or tonic in this coffee, but that combination of flavours and aromatics was particularly present in my siphon and moka pot brews. My French press offered a different kind of enjoyment, revealing more tropical fruit flavours as well as a ripe and fermented fruit quality. In all these brew methods, it offers quite a unique tasting experience.|
Truth's notes
"Limited release - extraordinary flavour. A new frontier in specialty fermentation where innovation is at the forefront of taste."
- Taste profile: Orange Blossom, Cranberry, Pomegranate, Lemongrass
- Score: 87+
- Mouthfeel: Silky and tea-like with a juicy brightness and lingering sugarcane sweetness
Coffee details from Truth
- Country: Colombia
- Region: Pereira, Risaralda
- Farm: Finca Milan
- Producer: Julio Cesar Madrid
- Variety: Castillo & Caturra
- Process: GT Culturing
- Altitude: 1400m
- Harvest: 2025
From the lush hills of Risaralda, Colombia, at around 1,400 masl, comes this exceptional microlot from Finca Milan, managed by the Madrid family. The farm is known for combining tradition with innovation, using processes such as natural, honey, washed, and now experimental culturing.
This lot blends Castillo and Caturra:
- Caturra is a compact Bourbon mutation, discovered in Brazil, with bright citrus acidity, medium body, and natural sweetness.
- Castillo, a Colombian hybrid bred for disease resistance, delivers balance with citric acidity, caramel, chocolate, and fruity undertones.
Together, these varietals create a vibrant, full-flavoured specialty cup.
Processing & The GT Culturing Technique
After harvesting, cherries are pulped and fermented through a controlled process, then dried on solar beds for clarity and brightness.
The defining feature of this coffee is culturing. A method inspired by food fermentation like yogurt and kombucha. Instead of relying solely on native microbes, a starter culture rich in yeast and healthy bacteria is introduced to steer fermentation and draw out desired flavours.
At Finca Milan, these starters are created from local fruits and plants such as pineapple, mango, passion fruit, and aromatics. This controlled environment allows both native and introduced microbes to interact under the strict monitoring of pH, temperature, oxygen, and fermentation time, drawing out layered and complex flavours. Once the process reaches its peak, the beans are rinsed and sun-dried.
"GT" refers to the specific microbial blend used for this lot. A signature culture that gives it a distinctive flavour profile and sets it apart from conventional processes.
Clever Dripper Iced Immersion Brew Guide from Truth
SERVES: 1–2 CUPS
BREW TIME: 5 MINUTES
YOU'LL NEED:
- 37.5g coffee (medium grind)
- 330g hot water (94–96°C)
- 170g ice (for dilution & cooling)
- Clever Dripper + Filter + Carafe
- Scale + timer
STEP-BY-STEP:
- Grind 37.5g of coffee
- Preheat your Clever Dripper and carafe.
- Add 330g of hot water (94–96 °C) into the brewer, then add the ground coffee.
- Mix well to ensure even saturation.
- Steep for 5 minutes.
- Place 170g of ice into your carafe and release the brew onto the ice.
- Stir gently to incorporate any remaining ice.
- Serve over fresh ice and enjoy.