Colombia | Andres Cardona - Blanca Nieves

Tasting Notes: Apple cobbler, vanilla, cinnamon

Origin: Santa Bárbara, Antioquia, Colombia

Varietal: Castillo

Process: Semi-washed Apple Co-ferment

About: This coffee comes to us through Unblended, a company dedicated to supporting young producers in Colombia by providing education, mentorship, resources, and infrastructure. Andres Cardona is one of the mentors in their program. Andres runs his family farm, La Ilusión, that has been in his family for decades. Andres is a master of fermentation, and opens his processing facility to other local producers to utilize. This is our third coffee from Andres, and one we've been saving for the holidays.

From Unblended: This lot is Andrés’ apple co-ferment, an innovative experiment where he combines his coffee cherries with fresh apple juice and ferments them for five days. The addition of apple juice not only intensifies the natural acidity of the cup but also contributes to a round, creamy mouthfeel that makes the profile truly distinctive. Andrés has always been known for his restless curiosity and drive to experiment. His portfolio is constantly evolving as he tests new ideas, techniques, and flavor profiles. With this particular coffee, he takes a new step by incorporating an external ingredient—apple juice—while staying true to his philosophy of starting with what he already has at the farm. For him, each experiment is a way to both honor his roots and push the boundaries of what coffee can be. The outcome is remarkable: a creamy, well-structured coffee with vibrant acidity and delicate notes of vanilla and spice. It reflects not only the creativity of the process but also Andrés’ commitment to producing coffees that surprise and delight, expanding the possibilities of specialty coffee.

Rest and house recipe: We're resting this for about 10-14 days.

V60 - 202° water, 32g:500mL (1:15.6)
0:45 bloom with 60mL followed by 4 equal pours to final volume.
Aeropress - 202° water, 12g:200mL, 3:30 brew time
Espresso - 1:2 ratio in 0:35, but 1:3 is just as great.

Roast Level:

Whole Bean Coffee | Net wt. 8 oz.