This coffee comes to us from Zarza Coffee managed by Jhonatan Gasca and his brother Johan from the farm Bella Vista in Bruselas, Huila Colombia. It is an anaerobic washed processed Bourbon Aji varietal. This varietal is similar to “Pink Bourbon” in that it is an Ethiopian Landrace coffee and not genetically tied to Bourbon.  After picking, the coffee underwent 3 separate anaerobic fermentations of 12, 24, and 24 hours, 2 with cherry intact and 1 after pulping. They were dried in the sun for 3 to 4 days before mechanical drying.

Jhonatan Gasca is from Pitalito in Huila, Colombia, and grew up in a coffee farming family that was historically focused on quantity over quality, as a more reliable means to make income.  Initially aspiring to be a soccer player, Jhonatan and Johan moved to Cali but eventually returned home due to financial difficulties.  Encouraged by his mother to study, Jhonatan pursued ecological agricultural and livestock production, leading him to experiment with specialty coffee.

In 2008, Jhonatan, his brother, and uncle began testing specialty coffee cultivation with the farm their father gave them. Despite initial setbacks, including having their first honey-processed coffee rejected due to the appearance, Jhonatan remained committed to quality. Inspired by the friends’ - the Lasso family - success (their friends) with specialty coffees, Jhonatan and Johan aim for global recognition, driven by pride in their family tradition and their product, coffee.

Video on this Limited Release Coffee here: Moonwake Zarza Bourbon Aji Tasting!