Colombia | La Virgen | Caturra / Castillo Washed | Ethyl Acetate Decaf
Upcoming Roast / 150g
$18.95 AUD
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100+ In stock
Colombia | La Virgen | Caturra / Castillo Washed | Ethyl Acetate Decaf
$18.95 AUD
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Pickup availability
80 Somersby Falls RD, Somersby NSW
Pickup unavailable today. Ready after next roast date.
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Discount applies automatically at checkout — mix & match any espresso roast.
Heads up: this coffee is decaffeinated — perfect if you love the taste of coffee without the caffeine buzz. We take extra care when roasting our decafs to keep them sweet, balanced and full of flavour so you won’t miss a thing.
This coffee’s roasted in our espresso style — but that doesn’t mean you need to brew it as espresso. You can make it however you like — espresso, filter, moka pot, AeroPress or whatever you enjoy. We roast it a touch darker than we would a filter roast to caramelise the sugars and bring out smooth chocolatey and nutty flavours that cut beautifully through milk.
When you add milk the natural sweetness, fat and proteins tend to soften acidity and highlight caramelised flavours. That’s why lighter filter roasts can sometimes taste a bit sharp or sour with milk — they’re simply not built for it. Espresso roasts being more developed balance this out. The deeper caramelisation creates toffee and cocoa notes that blend harmoniously with milk’s creaminess while a hint of gentle bitterness adds that satisfying ‘coffee punch’ in your flat white or cappuccino.
If you prefer your coffee black this roast will still give you a full-bodied rich cup with plenty of depth and sweetness. For a lighter fruitier experience you might enjoy exploring our filter range instead.
Origin and Sourcing
Varietal:
Castillo, Caturra
?
Castillo is a Colombian-developed hybrid, designed for rust resistance and high yield. It includes genetics from Caturra and Timor Hybrid. While early versions were criticized for mediocre cup quality, modern strains can be quite good, with fruit-forward and balanced flavors, especially when grown at high altitudes.
Caturra is a dwarf mutation of Bourbon discovered in Brazil in the early 20th century. Its compact size allows for higher planting density and easier harvesting, making it a farmer-friendly choice. It retains much of Bourbon’s flavor characteristics but can be slightly less complex. It is commonly grown in Colombia and Central America.
Processing Method:
EA Decaf
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The Sugarcane EA decaffeination method uses a natural solvent derived from sugarcane to remove caffeine from coffee beans. This process preserves the coffee’s original flavor characteristics, resulting in a decaf coffee that maintains excellent aroma and taste. It’s a preferred method for producing high-quality decaffeinated coffees.
Farm:
La Virgen
Region / Area:
Huila
Altitude:
1400–2000 MASL
Harvest Period:
May
Sourcing Partner:
Caravella
Roast Details
Roast Style:
Espresso
?
Filter roasts are lighter with a shorter development time, designed to highlight clarity, acidity, and fruit-driven complexity — perfect for black coffee and filter methods. These roasts can also be used for espresso, especially if you enjoy brighter, more vibrant shots. Try longer brew ratios or turbo shots to tame acidity and bring out sweetness. Espresso roasts, on the other hand, are developed further to encourage deeper caramelization and Maillard reactions, producing richer, chocolatey, and nutty flavours that shine in milk and offer a fuller-bodied espresso.
We don't usually roast omni (one roast for all brew methods) — in our experience, it tends to be a compromise that's average at both. But occasionally, for larger lots or versatile blends, we may do an omni roast to suit both black and milk drinkers.
Roasted On Machine:
Roest L100 Ultra
?
The ROEST L100 Ultra is the most advanced sample roaster in its class, combining the precision of the L100 Plus with next-generation hardware upgrades and new airflow technology. A redesigned, fully perforated drum with reversible rotation introduces a counterflow mode that channels air directly through the bean mass—allowing faster, more efficient heat transfer and enabling lighter roasts or second crack in under 90 seconds. With upgraded 5 GHz Wi-Fi, a faster processor, built-in pressure sensor, and refreshed UI matching the P3000, the Ultra offers better batch consistency (even at 50g), improved airflow calibration, and lower energy consumption. It’s a serious tool for roasters wanting unmatched control, speed, and repeatability—while still fitting neatly on the benchtop.
Taste Profile
Suitable with Milk?
Yes
?
Some of our light roasted filter coffees are bursting with bright, fruity acidity — think citrus, berries, or tropical notes. While these flavours shine on their own, they don't always play well with milk. The acidity can clash with milk's natural sweetness and creaminess, sometimes creating sour or chalky flavours.
Decaffeinated?
Yes
Colombia | La Virgen | Caturra / Castillo Washed | Ethyl Acetate Decaf - When is peak flavour?
Decaf Roast - Roasted on Roest L100 Ultra
Coffein Compagnie - Ethyl acetate (EA) decaffeination
Ethyl acetate is used in decaffeination because it is highly selective with respect to caffeine and can physically extract it from green coffee beans in a gentle, but targeted manner.
First, the green coffee beans are steamed to remove the silverskin and increase their water content, opening up their cell structure. The water-ethyl acetate-solution selectively extracts caffeine from the beans in several stages. Finally, steam is used to remove any remaining ethyl acetate from the beans, which are then dried to their original moisture content.
Ethyl Acetate is a natural component of sugar cane, coffee, and fruits such as musk, strawberries and bananas, but is also produced synthetically.
https://www.coffein-compagnie.de/en/
Ethyl acetate is used in decaffeination because it is highly selective with respect to caffeine and can physically extract it from green coffee beans in a gentle, but targeted manner.
First, the green coffee beans are steamed to remove the silverskin and increase their water content, opening up their cell structure. The water-ethyl acetate-solution selectively extracts caffeine from the beans in several stages. Finally, steam is used to remove any remaining ethyl acetate from the beans, which are then dried to their original moisture content.
Ethyl Acetate is a natural component of sugar cane, coffee, and fruits such as musk, strawberries and bananas, but is also produced synthetically.
https://www.coffein-compagnie.de/en/
Coffee growers in Guadalupe are very traditional coffee growers. They work with their families and their communities to grow and produce coffee how they’ve learned through their lives from their parents and grandparents. Additionally, coffee growers in this region are very committed to the environment, some of them having achieved the Rainforest Certification. Each farm has their own wet mill and drying infrastructure or at least one per family in which they all share their spaces. They own farms with an average of 5 hectares. In the last few years, we’ve noticed an interest in improving their quality, changing some varieties and processes with the objective of achieving better quality for their coffee.
In Guadalupe, Caravela works with many aging producers. However, many of the sons and daughters of these producers are stepping up to support and continue with the family traditions with greater energy, innovation and care for the environment.
In Guadalupe, Caravela works with many aging producers. However, many of the sons and daughters of these producers are stepping up to support and continue with the family traditions with greater energy, innovation and care for the environment.
About La Virgen
The coffee chosen by James Hoffmann in collaboration with Caravela is produced in La Virgen Guadalupe, in the department of Huila in Colombia, by a collective of independent producers.
Guadalupe is a small municipality in Huila, nestled along the skirts of the Eastern Cordillera of Colombia. Guadalupe is blessed with an abundance of water sources, including the Suaza River, which nourishes the fertile lands and sustains both the community and its agricultural bounty. The region’s water supply, combined with fresh, cool weather, creates ideal conditions for growing high-quality crops. Today, the hardworking people of Guadalupe make their living through cattle farming, river fishing, and cultivating crops like corn, beans, citrus fruits, and, most notably, coffee – one of the area’s most valuable resources.
About Coffee in Colombia
Colombia is one of the world’s most iconic coffee-producing countries, known for its mountainous landscapes, rich soils and deep coffee-growing culture. Across the country, small producers grow coffee in diverse microclimates, creating cups that range from bright and fruit-driven to chocolatey, nutty and comforting.
This lot sits firmly in the classic Colombian style, sweet, clean, balanced and familiar, with the kind of profile that feels like home for many Colombian coffee drinkers.