Oscar Hernández, Colombia

For the second consecutive year, Gust is thrilled to collaborate with world-renowned producer Oscar Hernandez of Finca Los Nogales. This year’s lot is nothing short of spectacular—vibrant and juicy, with crisp notes of pomegranate juice, complex fruity layers of cassis and cherry jam, and a delicate floral aftertaste of lemon thyme. A truly world-class coffee.

At just 34 years old, Oscar Hernández became well known for mastering the fermentation process and its subsequent impact on the flavour profile of the coffee.

The farm is nestled high in the lush mountains of Bruselas, where the team cultivate and care for a vast range of exotic varietals. The Los Nogales farm has become a hub for research and innovation where both technologies and biotechnologies are embraced to improve coffee production systems. 

The process always starts with harvesting of ripe fruits. The collected beans undergo a cleaning and disinfection process using treated water before being processed by a thermal shock. This alternating of hot and cold water, releases glucose from the beans and pasteurises them to eliminate unwanted microorganisms. The pulp is removed from the beans and sugars obtained from pressing the coffee husks are added for sweetness and complexity to the flavour. Pre-ferments, similar to sourdough in bakery, are added to start fermentation. The beans ferment for 120 hours, which contributes to the formation of distinctive flavours. The fermented beans are then dried in the sun for a period of 15 days, to reach the optimal moisture for storage.

• Region: Bruselas, Huila
• Elevation: 1,870 - 2,000 masl
• Variety: Yellow Colombia
• Process: Thermal shock 120H, Anaerobic Natural