One of the things that makes Quaffee such a hidden gem of a roasting business is its incredible selection of top-quality specialty Colombian coffee (among other things). Warren, the founder of Quaffee, is passionate about coffee from the South American country and has made made several trips to Colombia to source coffee in the time that we've known him. We've learned, over the years, that when Quaffee releases a Colombian microlot, it will always be worth tasting.

This particular lot comes from Las Nubes estate, a farm whose coffee we have never tried before but whose credentials bode for an exciting tasting opportunity. Having a cupping score of 87.25 and having been selected by Nordic Approach, a highly-esteemed coffee distributor, we have every reason to expect great things from this coffee.

Las Nubes is located in the Huila region of Colombia, which is itself celebrated for the quality and quantity of the specialty coffee it produces. In fact, at any point in the year, we almost always have a few delicious lots from Huila, and more are always welcome. This particular lot is comprised of the Castillo and Caturra varieties, which are traditional cultivars in Colombia, and it was processed using a traditional washed method. It should offer an archetypal tasting experience.

Phaedon's tasting notes

I'd sum this microlot up as a classic Colombian Quaffee. It reminds me of many of those legends of old such as Los Idolos and Los Naranjos in its flavour profile. It's relatively delicate but no slouch in the sweetness and body departments. Its elegance comes from the clarity in the cup.

Like the predecessors it made me reminisce about, I found orange acidity and flavours in most of my brews, as well as a honey-like sweetness. I felt these characteristics came through most clearly in my AeroPress and siphon brews, where the combination of immersion and filtration emphasised both the flavour and clarity. It's a lovely coffee, and I'm sure you will enjoy it if you try it.

Quaffee's notes

• Taste profile: Initially orange-like citrus that becomes blackberry and brown sugar. Finishes with vanillin and macadamia, with medium+ body
• Roast used: Intense flame to start, then a decreasing ramp rate, flame sustained into first crack, dropped and dumped a minute after first crack.
• Roast degree: Light – using my-tonino.com
• Quaffee brews:
• Espresso: 1:2.2 (31secs)
• AeroPress: 14.5g:180g (fine)
  
• Plunger: 48g:800g
• Pour-over/filter: 18g:300g (bloom 36 g)

Coffee details from Quaffee

• Farm: Las Nubes
• Owner: Erika Mayerly Perez
• Region: Huila
• Country: Colombia
• Altitude: 1,600 masl
• Processing: Fully washed and sun dried on patios
• Species/Variety: 100% Arabica Castillo and Caturra

Quaffee's transparency information

• Sourced from: Nordic Approach in collaboration with Rosetta
• FOB price: $12.98 + $0.05 (docs)
• Cupping score: 87.25 (Nordic Approach's)
• Lot size bought: 2 x 70kg (of a total of 9) bags
• Relationship: Our first coffee from Erika but we have a relationship with Nordic approach going back to 2018