Colombia Palm Tree & Toucan Estate Coffee Story: Lactic Fermentation Coffee Bean Flavor Profile

Having developed a deep appreciation for Mandheling and Blue Mountain coffees, I never imagined that I would one day be captivated by lactic acid fermentation processing. FrontStreet Coffee will introduce you to a coffee farm from Colombia that has gained recognition for its lactic acid fermentation processing method.

Coffee Origin Details

Country: Colombia

Region: Cundinamarca

Producer: La Palma & El Tucán (Palm Tree and Toucan Farm)

Farm: La Palma & El Tucán

La Palma & El Tucán is a farm, mill, and coffee ecotourism destination located in the mountainous Zipacon region of Cundinamarca. The farm's name reflects their core operational concept: symbiosis, where actions are mutually beneficial. Just as palm trees and toucans exist in a balanced relationship within their habitat, La Palma & El Tucán approaches the coffee ecosystem through sustainable production and innovative processing, inviting everyone in the supply chain to visit the farm and witness this coffee production environment firsthand.

At the farm, the intersection between coffee agriculture and sustainable tourism is evident. Open-air cafés and cabins hidden in the forest encourage visitors to consider the continuity between coffee production and consumption spaces. The vegetable gardens, compost production, biochar production, water filtration, coffee tree fertilization methods, various shade tree species, and the overall biodiversity of flora and fauna on the farm are indicators of permaculture principles in practice.

For over a century, coffee has been an integral part of the economic development of the Cundinamarca province. The region's coffee is not just a crop; it is part of the social and cultural fabric of the area.

Cundinamarca's coffee grows on the western slopes of the Eastern Andes in Colombia. Here, coffee cultivation is characterized by its biodiversity, integration with local ecosystems, and the commitment of the region's coffee producers; these elements contribute to the prevalence of shade-grown coffee in Cundinamarca. Under a canopy of native Andean flora, shade-grown coffee demonstrates the region's philosophy of conservation and environmental sustainability.

Cundinamarca's coffee farms span over 43,000 hectares, with 70% cultivated under other tree species. The department surrounds the country's capital, Bogotá, which has over 10 million inhabitants and a vast metropolitan area. Despite being very close to the country's urban center, the farms in Cundinamarca stand in stark contrast to the ecosystems that actively protect Colombia's natural diversity.

Lactic Acid Fermentation Processing

Lactic acid fermentation allows lactic acid bacteria to grow under anaerobic conditions, with continuous monitoring of oxygen levels, sugar content, and pH values. The bacteria feed on the sugars in the mucilage, producing high concentrations of lactic acid. Once the desired pH value is reached, the coffee is soaked in clean water to halt bacterial growth and then dried on raised beds.

Lactic acid fermentation produces a completely unique final product: a slightly viscous body, distinctive acidity and citrus notes, and a sipping experience that we can almost equate to drinking dry white wine. As one of our clients described, "Wow. The first sip. Rich mouthfeel! Citrus notes in the front, intense acidity and buttery flavor."

FrontStreet Coffee followed the trend in 2020 by acquiring anaerobic natural processed coffee beans.

Caturra is a Bourbon variety with curved tips at the end of the coffee beans, round and slender. It offers better productivity and disease resistance than the Bourbon coffee variety, with stronger altitude adaptability—the higher the altitude, the more pronounced the flavor, but conversely, the smaller the yield.

I wonder when Geisha will have access to the same processing method?

Important Notice :

前街咖啡 FrontStreet Coffee has moved to new addredd:

FrontStreet Coffee Address: 315,Donghua East Road,GuangZhou

Tel:020 38364473