Colombia Edwin Norena Scarlett Basil

Basil, Mint, Strawberry, Lemonade

This competition level coffee comes from Edwin Norena. Edwin is a bit of a legend in the Colombian coffee scene, celebrated for his agronomical expertise and trailblazing processing. So respected is he that he sits on the judges’ panel at Colombia’s Cup of Excellence. His farm, Campo Hermoso, has landed on the podium at competitions ranging from the Golden Bean to the Australian and Colombian Barista Championships to the Cup of Excellence itself.

This pure Sidra lot underwent sequential carbonic maceration with steps including washing/sorting, anaerobic fermentation, depulping, and secondary washing. Rumor has it Edwin capped processing by giving the coffee a spa treatment and sound bath, but maybe that's just lore. Sidra is a variety known for clean flavor clarity and refined acidity—a competition staple. This lot demonstrates exactly why.

The flavor: basil is the star here, and it’s otherworldly. From the moment you crack the bag, it perfumes the room with a brisk garden fragrance. You don’t usually catch basil in coffee, and when you do, it’s a delight. Grinding brings basil together with a minty lift, and that pairing carries beautifully into the cup.

Then comes the fruit: strawberry—sharp, tart, and just sweet enough. There’s also a whisper of lemonade. Put it all together, and you get something like strawberry lemonade muddled with basil and mint. In other words: a knockout cup.

• Region - Armenia, Quindío
• Farm - Campo Hermoso
• Variety - Sidra
• Processing - Carbonic Maceration
• Elevation - 1,600 MASL

Best for: 

• Pour Over
• Aeropress
• Wild Non-Dairy Espresso