Tasting Notes: Green Cardamom, Orange zest, Mint tea
Finca El Placer | Region: Quindío, Colombia | Varietal: Aji Bourbon | Processing: Red Honey | Altitude: 1,750 MASL
Our average cupping score: 86.5
Currently shipping coffee roasted on October 29, 2025, perfectly rested. As of Dec 14th, we felt this coffee had opened up quite nicely
V60 recipe: 18 g coffee · 300 g water (1:16.7). Grind 7 on EK43. 198 °F / 92 °C, Cafec T‑90 filter.
Pour at 0:00 (60 g bloom), 0:31 (120 g), 0:41 (180 g), 0:53 (240 g) and 1:05 (300 g; gentle spoon agitation). Target brew time: 3:00
Why This Coffee Stands Out
This Red Honey Aji Bourbon from Sebastián Ramírez’s Finca El Placer in Quindío, Colombia, is a rare varietal with a distinctly spiced, medium body, and juicy texture. Known for his innovative processing, Sebastián crafted this coffee to be unique yet balanced. It undergoes two fermentation stages—first, a dry fermentation in cherry without water, then with water after depulping—enhancing sweetness and producing a clean, layered cup.
In the red honey process, some fruit mucilage remains on the bean as it dries, adding body and complexity. Extended fermentation turns the mucilage red, amplifying sweetness and texture. The result is a silky, lingering cup with spice-driven cardamom notes, subtle florals, and structured sweetness—showcasing why Sebastián’s coffees are prized for pushing flavor boundaries while remaining balanced.
About Sebastián Ramírez
Sebastián is a fourth-generation coffee producer who has turned Finca El Placer into a hub for experimentation and quality. He is renowned for championing rare varieties like Gesha, Pink Bourbon, and Aji Bourbon, alongside innovative processing methods that highlight the unique potential of each lot. His coffees regularly appear on competition stages around the world, celebrated for their precision and creativity. He is also the producer behind our very popular White Honey Gesha, a customer favorite that perfectly showcases his ability to balance innovation with elegance.
Price Transparency
Many coffee farmers earn less than their production costs, and value isn’t equally distributed in the coffee value chain. Publishing what we pay won’t fix this imbalance on its own, but it’s an important step toward accountability and a fairer system.
What We Paid (Farmgate + Export & Import): $14/lb | FLIRP (Fairtrade Living Income Price): $3.03/lb | Commodity (NYSE coffee price): $3.01/lb
