The Scientist
Finca El Paraíso is one of Colombia’s most celebrated innovators, a name that has redefined expectations in the specialty coffee world. Their breakthrough came in 2015 and 2016 with the introduction of thermal shock processing, a method that stunned the industry and unveiled flavors both explosive and exotic. Through our partners at Falcon Coffee, we are now able to share their pioneering work as part of our latest selection.
At the core of this lot is Castillo, a varietal created under a national project to secure higher yields and disease resistance. Though it was designed for resilience, Castillo often carried the weight of its robusta lineage, showing less complexity and heavier flavor. Finca El Paraíso has rewritten this perception, pushing the varietal into new territory with progressive fermentation techniques that unlock flavours far beyond its reputation.
The Red Plum lot begins with an uncommon step for coffee, ozone treatment, a method borrowed from vegetable cleaning that disinfects the cherries and prepares them for precision fermentation. The journey continues with a 36-hour anaerobic fermentation in temperature-controlled water baths, followed by depulping and demucilaging. Instead of discarding the mucilage, it is transformed into a culture medium and used for a 12-hour yeast fermentation, adding another layer of complexity. The coffee is then dried in a dehumidifier and rested in cool storage, allowing moisture content to stabilize before release.
What emerges is a cup that bursts with fruit-driven vibrancy. On filter, Red Plum delivers high clarity with flavors of plum candy, grape sugus, and bubblegum that shift into a creamy grape milkshake as it cools. Espresso reveals a deeper side with gooseberry, cranberry, and leathery fruits, while milk softens the profile into dark chocolate and roasted hazelnut, echoing the comfort of classic Colombian espresso. Red Plum is not just a coffee, it is a statement of innovation, proof that science and creativity can push flavor into new territories.
