For too long, decaf has been a compromise — something you reach for when you've had your daily limit, hoping it won't disappoint. This is not that coffee. The Peñas Blancas Pink Bourbon Decaf is what happens when exceptional green coffee meets exceptional process: a cup so vibrant, so layered, so unapologetically alive, that you'll forget it's missing anything at all.
THE FARM
In the mountains of Acevedo, Huila, brothers Diego and Jhoan Vergara inherited more than land from their parents — they inherited a calling. Beginning in 1990 on a modest 3-hectare farm, the brothers grew their operation slowly and deliberately over decades, expanding to 16 hectares while embracing varietal diversity and a deep commitment to sustainability. They haven't just grown coffee — they've grown an ecosystem. Over 2,000 shade trees planted across the farm restore organic matter, regenerate soil health, and create the cooler microclimate that allows Pink Bourbon to develop its signature delicacy at 1,750 metres above sea level.
This is coffee grown by people who think about the next harvest, and the one after that.
THE PROCESS — TWICE EXCEPTIONAL
What makes this lot remarkable is that it goes through not one extraordinary process, but two.
On the farm, the cherries undergo a precise, multi-stage fermentation journey: 36 hours of oxidation in tulles, water flotation with alcohol disinfection, room-temperature oxidation, depulping, and a further 36-hour anaerobic fermentation with mucilage intact. The fermentation is then arrested with hot water at 50°C — a technique that locks in flavour at exactly the right moment. Drying takes place in a hermetically sealed stainless-steel dehumidifier over 36 to 40 hours, followed by a one-week stabilisation rest.
Then the coffee travels to British Columbia, Canada, where it's decaffeinated using the Swiss Water® Process — a 100% chemical-free method that uses only water to gently remove 99.9% of caffeine, while leaving the bean's inherent flavour profile intact. No solvents. No shortcuts. Just water, science, and patience.
The result is a coffee that has been handled with extraordinary care at every single step.
IN THE CUP
The nose is bright and fruit-forward — strawberry, cherry, raspberry, and purple grape weaving together in a way that feels more like a fruit bowl than a conventional coffee. On the palate, a smooth, juicy body carries those berry notes with ease, underpinned by a crisp berry and lemon acidity that keeps everything lively. The finish is long and surprisingly fresh — a zesty mint clarity that lifts the whole experience and leaves you reaching for another sip.
Scored 86.75 by Bennett's internal Q-grade panel.
DETAILS
Origin: Acevedo, Huila, Colombia
Variety: Pink Bourbon
Altitude: 1,750 masl
Processing: Washed — Multi-stage anaerobic fermentation
Decaf MethodSwiss Water® Process (100% chemical-free)
HOW TO BREW IT
This coffee rewards a gentle hand. As filter, try a slightly lower temperature — around 90–92°C — to preserve the delicate berry and mint notes without pushing toward bitterness. It's a natural for cold brew too, where the long steep brings out its fruit-forward sweetness beautifully. As espresso, pull it short and enjoy the syrupy body; it pairs wonderfully with milk but holds its own as a black shot for those who want all the flavour, none of the buzz.
An ideal evening coffee. A perfect gift for someone who loves specialty but needs to watch their caffeine. And frankly, just a genuinely excellent cup — no asterisk required.
WHY WE CHOSE IT
Decaf drinkers are, in many ways, the most devoted coffee lovers of all — they choose coffee purely for the taste, not the caffeine. They deserve extraordinary coffee, not an afterthought. For too long, the specialty world has handed them compromised lots and called it good enough. We refuse to do that. The Peñas Blancas Pink Bourbon exists because exceptional taste should never be conditional on caffeine content — and the Swiss Water® Process proves it doesn't have to be.
For too long, decaf has been a compromise — something you reach for when you've had your daily limit, hoping it won't disappoint. This is not that coffee. The Peñas Blancas Pink Bourbon Decaf is what happens when exceptional green coffee meets exceptional process: a cup so vibrant, so layered, so unapologetically alive, that you'll forget it's missing anything at all.
THE FARM
In the mountains of Acevedo, Huila, brothers Diego and Jhoan Vergara inherited more than land from their parents — they inherited a calling. Beginning in 1990 on a modest 3-hectare farm, the brothers grew their operation slowly and deliberately over decades, expanding to 16 hectares while embracing varietal diversity and a deep commitment to sustainability. They haven't just grown coffee — they've grown an ecosystem. Over 2,000 shade trees planted across the farm restore organic matter, regenerate soil health, and create the cooler microclimate that allows Pink Bourbon to develop its signature delicacy at 1,750 metres above sea level.
This is coffee grown by people who think about the next harvest, and the one after that.
THE PROCESS — TWICE EXCEPTIONAL
What makes this lot remarkable is that it goes through not one extraordinary process, but two.
On the farm, the cherries undergo a precise, multi-stage fermentation journey: 36 hours of oxidation in tulles, water flotation with alcohol disinfection, room-temperature oxidation, depulping, and a further 36-hour anaerobic fermentation with mucilage intact. The fermentation is then arrested with hot water at 50°C — a technique that locks in flavour at exactly the right moment. Drying takes place in a hermetically sealed stainless-steel dehumidifier over 36 to 40 hours, followed by a one-week stabilisation rest.
Then the coffee travels to British Columbia, Canada, where it's decaffeinated using the Swiss Water® Process — a 100% chemical-free method that uses only water to gently remove 99.9% of caffeine, while leaving the bean's inherent flavour profile intact. No solvents. No shortcuts. Just water, science, and patience.
The result is a coffee that has been handled with extraordinary care at every single step.
IN THE CUP
The nose is bright and fruit-forward — strawberry, cherry, raspberry, and purple grape weaving together in a way that feels more like a fruit bowl than a conventional coffee. On the palate, a smooth, juicy body carries those berry notes with ease, underpinned by a crisp berry and lemon acidity that keeps everything lively. The finish is long and surprisingly fresh — a zesty mint clarity that lifts the whole experience and leaves you reaching for another sip.
Scored 86.75 by Bennett's internal Q-grade panel.
DETAILS
Origin: Acevedo, Huila, Colombia
Variety: Pink Bourbon
Altitude: 1,750 masl
Processing: Washed — Multi-stage anaerobic fermentation
Decaf MethodSwiss Water® Process (100% chemical-free)
HOW TO BREW IT
This coffee rewards a gentle hand. As filter, try a slightly lower temperature — around 90–92°C — to preserve the delicate berry and mint notes without pushing toward bitterness. It's a natural for cold brew too, where the long steep brings out its fruit-forward sweetness beautifully. As espresso, pull it short and enjoy the syrupy body; it pairs wonderfully with milk but holds its own as a black shot for those who want all the flavour, none of the buzz.
An ideal evening coffee. A perfect gift for someone who loves specialty but needs to watch their caffeine. And frankly, just a genuinely excellent cup — no asterisk required.
WHY WE CHOSE IT
Decaf drinkers are, in many ways, the most devoted coffee lovers of all — they choose coffee purely for the taste, not the caffeine. They deserve extraordinary coffee, not an afterthought. For too long, the specialty world has handed them compromised lots and called it good enough. We refuse to do that. The Peñas Blancas Pink Bourbon exists because exceptional taste should never be conditional on caffeine content — and the Swiss Water® Process proves it doesn't have to be.
