This new sugarcane processed decaf El Vergel from Tolima Colombia is packed full of flavour with notes of toffee, plum and shortbread. For a decaf this coffee has got loads of character retaining a lot of sweetness and top notes that can sometimes be lost with other decaffeination processes. You can expect good body as well and a roast profile that works great for filter or espresso. Originally set up as an avocado farm in 1995 the Baytor family turned their hand to coffee farming in 2006 after avocado prices hit an all time low. Farming catimor and red and yellow bourbon they went from strength to strength and by 2018 starting experimenting with natural processed coffee and now this delicious sugarcane processed decaf. This sugarcane process begins with special fermentation to extract unique flavours. The caffeine extraction involves circular containers filled with a blend of water and ethyl acetate, lowering caffeine levels to 0.1%. Ethyl Acetate is a naturally occurring compound made by combining fermented sugarcane molasses with acetic acid. As well as being considered a natural decaffeination process, sugarcane is also readily available in Colombia so it makes great economic sense.