Co-fermentation. Have you heard of it? In a nutshell, the co-fermentation process is where a natural non-microbial ingredient is added to the coffee during the fermentation phase. This can be anything from fruits to spices, or even both.
Heads up! Some links on this post are affiliates—We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks!
Brandywine Coffee Roasters: Peach Syrup Co-Ferment
I have been wanting to try a co-ferment coffee for some time now, and so when I saw that one of my favorite roasters, Brandywine Coffee Roasters, was offering a limited Peach Syrup Co-Ferment by Rodrigo Sanchez, I had to try it. This Colombia Monteblanco Peach Syrup Co-Ferment is a mix of caturra and bourbon varietals and is peach syrup co-fermented washed. Intrigued? I know I definitely was.
Now when I say limited, I mean it! I saw this coffee pop up on my Instagram feed, and I bought it a day later. This coffee sold out by the time it was delivered to my door! These limited offerings are special and I knew that this wasn’t something to wait on, and I am so glad I jumped on this one.
Peaches, peaches, peaches…
I am a huge fan of anything peach, so this tasting profile really caught my attention. I was not disappointed. The tasting notes on this bag of beans are described as peach, black tea, and lemon. I followed the brewing suggestion that was included on the box the beans came in, which was to use 20 grams of coffee and 300mL of water, with a brew time of 2:45-3:00 minutes. I ground the beans to a medium coarse using my Porlex hand grinder and Kalita Wave 185, as was suggested.
Immediately after the initial pour, the bloom wafted with aromas of peach gummy ring candy. The taste was complex, with a sweet peachy black tea brightness. Everyone’s pallet is different, but when it was hot, it reminded me of a Brisk lemon/Snapple peach iced tea hybrid. I enjoyed it hot, and savored the nuanced flavors as it cooled. As it cooled my tastebuds and mind experienced a whole new level of joy, one that reminded me of bitting into a ripe nectarine combined with savoring a clean cold brew.
Final Thoughts
I am so glad I got to experience this coffee, and I hope to try more co-ferment coffees in the near future. Have you ever tried a co-ferment? What was your experience? Let us know, we would love to hear from you!