La Reserva - Marlon Rojas - Double Fermentation Washed Aji Bourbon

Colombia — Marlon Rojas Finca La Reserva Aji Bourbon (Double Fermentation Washed)

Tastes Like — 🍍 Passionfruit • 🍓 Strawberry Soda • 🍍 Pineapple Juice

DETAILS

• Producer: Marlon Rojas
• Farm: Finca La Reserva
• Region: Huila, Colombia
• Varietal: Aji Bourbon
• Process: Double Fermentation Washed
• Altitude: 1,720 MASL

INTRO

From Marlon Rojas at Finca La Reserva in Huila — a double fermentation washed Aji Bourbon from one of Colombia's most compelling and unconventional producer stories. Bright, tropical, and effervescent. In the cup: passionfruit, strawberry soda, and pineapple juice.

THE PRODUCER

Marlon Rojas is a third-generation coffee producer from Monserrate Village in Huila whose original career path took him to the skies as a commercial pilot — before he was eventually drawn back to his family's roots as coffee growers. Since returning, he has immersed himself in specialty coffee with the same precision and discipline that aviation demands, cultivating unique varieties, refining fermentation techniques, and becoming Colombia's 2025 Cup Tasters Champion. At Finca La Reserva, innovation and tradition coexist in harmony — Marlon blending the inherited knowledge of a three-generation coffee family with technical precision to achieve consistency and exceptional quality, while remaining deeply connected to the community that raised him.

Aji Bourbon is a variety grown primarily in Huila, colloquially referred to as "Bourbon Aji" though genetic testing confirms no relation to Bourbon — it is 100% Ethiopian Landrace, belonging to the Core Ethiopia group of varieties alongside Chiroso, Sidra, Gesha, and Pink Bourbon. Relatively new to the specialty market, its potential for vivid, tropical cup profiles is increasingly well documented, and this lot from La Reserva is a compelling example.

THE PROCESS

The Double Fermentation Washed process at Finca La Reserva involves:

🍒 Hand-picking — Aji Bourbon cherries selectively harvested at peak ripeness 🌡️ First fermentation — Cherries fermented whole for 24–36 hours in a pH and temperature controlled environment 🔧 Depulping — Outer skin removed after the first fermentation 🧪 Second fermentation — Depulped beans undergo a second controlled fermentation to develop additional complexity and depth 💧 Washing — Thoroughly washed after fermentation to remove all residue ☀️ Drying — Dried to optimal moisture content on raised beds

The precisely controlled double fermentation is the defining step — by managing both pH and temperature throughout two distinct fermentation phases, Marlon builds the vivid tropical brightness and effervescent character that define this lot, while the thorough washing after each stage preserves the clean, structured finish that allows every note to emerge with clarity.

THE CUP

A bright, tropical, and thoroughly exhilarating double fermentation washed Aji Bourbon from one of Huila's most technically gifted producers — passionfruit vibrancy, strawberry soda effervescence, and fresh pineapple juice sweetness in a clean, well-defined cup. Marlon Rojas at his most expressive.

Flavour Notes

🍍 Passionfruit 🍓 Strawberry Soda 🍍 Pineapple Juice