Colombia — Felipe Arcila, Finca Santa Monica Castillo (Strawberry Co-Ferment Washed)

Tastes Like — 🍓 Strawberry • 🍍 Tropical • 🍮 Custard

DETAILS

• Producer: Felipe Arcila
• Farm: Finca Santa Monica
• Region: Quindío, Colombia
• Varietal: Castillo
• Process: Washed Co-Ferment with Strawberry
• Altitude: 1,450–1,500 MASL
• Size: 8oz (227g)

INTRO

Finca Santa Monica's Strawberry Washed Castillo is a vivid expression of co-fermentation done with restraint. The washed base process preserves structure and clarity, whilst the co-ferment with strawberry weaves a distinctive jammy sweetness through the cup. The result sits somewhere between a classic Colombian washed and an expressive fruit-forward anaerobic — vibrant but never overwhelming.

THE PRODUCER

Felipe Arcila operates Finca Santa Monica in Colombia's Quindío department, a region celebrated for its consistent microclimates and rich volcanic soils. At 1,450–1,500 MASL, the farm sits at a productive altitude for cultivating Castillo, a variety developed in Colombia for both disease resistance and cup quality.

Like many Hydrangea producer partners, Felipe is committed to experimental processing, pushing beyond conventional approaches to explore what co-fermentation with specific fruit additions can contribute to the cup. The strawberry lot at Santa Monica represents one of the more focused and successful results of that exploration.

THE PROCESS

The Strawberry Co-Ferment Washed process at Finca Santa Monica involves:

• 🍒 Selective Harvest — Ripe Castillo cherry is hand-picked at peak maturity
• 🔧 Depulping — Cherry is depulped, removing the outer fruit skin
• 🧪 Strawberry Co-Fermentation — Coffee ferments alongside strawberry, introducing aromatic compounds into the bean
• 💧 Washing — Coffee is thoroughly washed, removing fermentation residue whilst preserving the co-ferment character
• ☀️ Drying — Seeds are dried on raised beds
• ✅ Quality Control — Lots are carefully sorted before export

The washed base keeps the cup clean and structured, allowing the strawberry character to emerge as a flavour note rather than an overwhelming addition.

THE CUP

Strawberry jam sweetness up front, underpinned by tropical notes and a soft custard finish. The co-ferment integration is seamless — this reads as a naturally expressive coffee rather than an artificial addition, with clarity from the washed process keeping everything in balance.

Flavour Notes

• 🍓 Strawberry
• 🍍 Tropical
• 🍮 Custard