{"title":"Competition Series","description":"\u003cp\u003eCoffee from Nestor Lasso\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"colombia-finca-el-faro-pink-bourbon-copy","title":"Nestor Lasso - Bourbon Aji","description":"\u003cp\u003eFlavour Profile - Mint \/ Grape \/ Pear\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"page\" title=\"Page 2\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"layoutArea\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"column\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eRegion: Huila\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eVariety: Bourbon Aji\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eProcess: Anaerobic Washed\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"column\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eProducer: Nestor Lasso\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eComing from the same farm I used for my Irish Brewers Cup competition coffee, this Bourbon Aji Washed from El Diviso is another incredible example of the innovation and precision that has made Néstor Lasso and the team at El Diviso some of the most exciting producers in coffee today. While completely different in profile to my competition lot, it carries the same philosophy of pushing boundaries while still allowing the variety and terroir to shine through. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eProduced at 1,750–1,850 metres above sea level in Pitalito, Huila, El Diviso sits in one of Colombia’s most celebrated coffee-growing regions. Volcanic soils, cool nights, and slow cherry maturation create the perfect conditions for developing intense sweetness and remarkable flavour clarity. Over the last number of years, Néstor and Adrián Lasso have transformed the family farm from traditional commodity production into a world-renowned hub for experimental microlots and advanced processing. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBourbon Aji itself is an incredibly rare and fascinating variety. Originally an Ethiopian landrace, it gets its name from the unusual aroma found in the mucilage, often reminiscent of fresh chili or herbal spice. At high elevations like El Diviso, the variety develops exceptional florality, refined fruit sweetness, and an almost tea-like elegance in the cup. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe processing is where El Diviso’s obsessive attention to detail really becomes clear. Only perfectly ripe cherries are hand-picked before flotation sorting removes lower-density fruit and defects. The cherries then undergo around 40 hours of anaerobic fermentation in sealed tanks at carefully controlled temperatures between 16–18°C, helping preserve the pure character of the variety while building complexity and structure. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFollowing this, the coffee moves through multiple oxidation stages. After the initial fermentation, cherries are transferred into larger tanks for approximately 20 hours of oxidation, with the leachates collected and reused to further develop flavour complexity. The cherries are then pulped before entering a second oxidation stage with the mucilage still intact, allowing additional sweetness and aromatic intensity to develop. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOne of the most unique parts of the process is the thermal shock wash. After fermentation, the beans are washed using water heated to around 65–70°C. This stage is designed to stabilise aromatic compounds and lock in clarity, helping create the incredibly clean yet expressive profile this coffee is known for. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDrying is handled slowly and carefully using parabolic dryers and raised beds over 16–24 days, sometimes longer, until the coffee reaches the ideal moisture content. Temperatures are carefully monitored throughout to protect the delicate florals and herbal complexity that make Bourbon Aji so unique. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn the cup, this coffee is vibrant, elegant, and layered. Expect jasmine florals, lemongrass, Thai basil, red currant, apricot, passionfruit, and fresh lime zest, alongside subtle herbal spice and a silky, tea-like body. The finish lingers with floral sweetness and delicate spice, creating a coffee that feels both refined and deeply expressive. \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!----\u003e","brand":"Behind the Label Coffee","offers":[{"title":"250g \/ Wholebean","offer_id":54297304432969,"sku":null,"price":24.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true},{"title":"250g \/ Espresso","offer_id":54297304465737,"sku":null,"price":24.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true},{"title":"250g \/ V60","offer_id":54297304498505,"sku":null,"price":24.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true},{"title":"250g \/ French Press \/ Cafetiere","offer_id":54297304531273,"sku":null,"price":24.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true},{"title":"250g \/ Aeropress","offer_id":54297304564041,"sku":null,"price":24.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true},{"title":"1KG \/ Wholebean","offer_id":54297304596809,"sku":null,"price":66.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true},{"title":"1KG \/ Espresso","offer_id":54297304629577,"sku":null,"price":66.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true},{"title":"1KG \/ V60","offer_id":54297304662345,"sku":null,"price":66.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true},{"title":"1KG \/ French Press \/ Cafetiere","offer_id":54297304695113,"sku":null,"price":66.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true},{"title":"1KG \/ Aeropress","offer_id":54297304727881,"sku":null,"price":66.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0882\/4799\/2649\/files\/8_e5548295-a087-4404-96d1-647b03d59291.png?v=1778073893"},{"product_id":"nestor-lasso-bourbon-aji-copy","title":"Nestor Lasso - Ombligon","description":"\u003cp\u003eFlavour Profile - Cherry \/ Red Wine \/ Blood Orange\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv title=\"Page 2\" class=\"page\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"layoutArea\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"column\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eRegion: Huila\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eVariety: Ombligon \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eProcess: Natural\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"column\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eProducer: Nestor Lasso\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eComing from the same farm I used for my Irish Brewers Cup competition coffee, this lot from El Diviso showcases the level of innovation and precision that has made the farm one of the most exciting producers in modern coffee. While this is not the exact competition coffee, it carries the same philosophy and attention to detail that drew me to El Diviso in the first place — pushing flavour, fermentation, and quality to extraordinary levels.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eProduced in Pitalito, Huila, by brothers Nestor and Adrian Lasso alongside Jhoan Vergara, El Diviso has become globally recognised for experimental processing methods and some of Colombia’s most expressive coffees. Sitting at around 1,800 metres above sea level, the farm combines ideal growing conditions with an obsessive approach to post-harvest processing that allows coffees like this to stand out on the world stage. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe variety, Ombligon, is incredibly rare and instantly recognisable due to the small “belly button” formation on the bean. Believed to either trace back to Ethiopian heirloom genetics or be a mutation of Pacamara, it is almost exclusively grown in Huila and is known for producing intensely fruit-forward and floral coffees with remarkable sweetness and texture. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOnly fully ripe cherries measuring between 21–24 °Brix are selected before floatation sorting removes lower-density cherries and defects. Every detail matters at this stage because consistency in ripeness is essential for creating clarity and balance in such a complex process. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAfter washing, the cherries undergo a thermal shock rinse at approximately 50°C. This helps loosen the structure of the fruit and activates fermentation in a controlled way, laying the foundation for the explosive fruit character this coffee develops later in the process. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe coffee then enters a multi-stage fermentation designed to build depth, sweetness, and complexity. First comes an oxidation phase lasting around 48 hours in open tanks, where coffee must is regularly recirculated while pH and sugar levels are carefully monitored. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFrom there, the cherries are sealed in anaerobic tanks and inoculated with brewer’s yeast for a further 38–48 hours. This stage amplifies the coffee’s dense body, vibrant fruit notes, and layered sweetness. Some versions of the process even involve extended fermentation inside controlled bio-reactors where temperature, pressure, humidity, and circulation are tightly managed. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDrying is approached with the same precision as fermentation. The coffee is mechanically dried to reduce moisture, rested in dark bags for stabilisation, and then slowly finished under canopy drying conditions over approximately 15 days until reaching the ideal moisture content. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe final cup is intensely expressive, showcasing notes of strawberry, raspberry, sweet spice, clove, cardamom, and delicate florals. It is juicy, dense, and complex, with the kind of clarity and structure that demonstrates just how far modern coffee processing can go when producers are willing to innovate fearlessly. \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!----\u003e","brand":"Behind the Label Coffee","offers":[{"title":"250g \/ Wholebean","offer_id":54297351815497,"sku":null,"price":24.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true},{"title":"250g \/ Espresso","offer_id":54297351848265,"sku":null,"price":24.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true},{"title":"250g \/ V60","offer_id":54297351881033,"sku":null,"price":24.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true},{"title":"250g \/ French Press \/ Cafetiere","offer_id":54297351913801,"sku":null,"price":24.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true},{"title":"250g \/ Aeropress","offer_id":54297351946569,"sku":null,"price":24.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true},{"title":"1KG \/ Wholebean","offer_id":54297351979337,"sku":null,"price":66.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true},{"title":"1KG \/ Espresso","offer_id":54297352012105,"sku":null,"price":66.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true},{"title":"1KG \/ V60","offer_id":54297352044873,"sku":null,"price":66.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true},{"title":"1KG \/ French Press \/ Cafetiere","offer_id":54297352077641,"sku":null,"price":66.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true},{"title":"1KG \/ Aeropress","offer_id":54297352110409,"sku":null,"price":66.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0882\/4799\/2649\/files\/7_2ad6547f-8782-4601-8978-8f1c1477c346.png?v=1778073893"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0882\/4799\/2649\/collections\/Screenshot_2026-05-06_at_12.39.08.png?v=1778067598","url":"https:\/\/www.behindthelabelcoffee.ie\/collections\/competition-series.oembed","provider":"Behind the Label Coffee","version":"1.0","type":"link"}