Watermelon Candy
Colombia | Forest Coffee × El Vergel Estate
A vibrant co-fermented coffee that pushes the boundaries of flavour through controlled fermentation. Juicy fruit, candy-like sweetness, and playful complexity come together in a clean, expressive cup.
Flavour Profile
Watermelon Candy · Bubblegum · Tropical Fruit
Bursting with juicy watermelon candy, vibrant tropical fruit, and nostalgic bubblegum sweetness. A playful, winey profile balanced by bright acidity and a surprisingly clean finish.
Coffee Details
Origin: Tolima · Huila · Caldas, Colombia
Processing Farm: El Vergel Estate
Producer: Forest Coffee Network
Variety: Caturra & Colombia
Process: Honey Co-Fermentation (Watermelon)
Elevation: 1,750 MASL
Harvest: Seasonal (Fresh Crop Selection)
Roast: Filter Roast
Origin Story
This coffee represents a collaboration between coffee producers across Tolima, Huila, and Caldas, with cherries selected at peak freshness before being transported to El Vergel Estate for processing.
El Vergel Estate is operated by Martha, Shady, and Elías Bayter, pioneers in modern Colombian coffee processing. Since founding Forest Coffee in 2019, they have built a network of more than 250 farming families, connecting producers directly with international roasters while promoting transparency, sustainability, and fermentation innovation.
Today, Forest Coffee is recognised worldwide for creating some of Colombia's most exciting experimental coffees.
Process Story
Only fully ripe cherries are selected before undergoing 48 hours of anaerobic pre-fermentation inside sealed plastic bags.
The cherries are then depulped while retaining the fruit mucilage and transferred into fermentation tanks, where they ferment for five days with selected yeast and watermelon as part of a controlled co-fermentation process.
Following fermentation, the coffee is pre-dried under the sun before finishing in temperature-controlled mechanical silos. The coffee then rests for approximately 30 days, allowing the flavours to stabilise and integrate before milling.
This carefully controlled process creates an exceptionally vibrant cup with candy-like sweetness, tropical fruit character, and remarkable consistency.
Coffee Lineage
Caturra contributes sweetness, balance, and a smooth body, while Colombia adds bright acidity, structure, and resilience.
Combined with Forest Coffee's innovative fermentation techniques, these varieties create a playful and expressive flavour profile unlike traditional washed or natural coffees.
Why We Love This Coffee
This is a coffee for adventurous drinkers.
Rather than expressing only terroir, it showcases how controlled co-fermentation can create entirely new sensory experiences while maintaining balance and drinkability.
If you enjoy vibrant, candy-like coffees with juicy fruit and a clean finish, this is one of the most exciting examples of Colombia's modern coffee innovation.
Transparency Note This is a co-fermented coffee. The distinctive watermelon character comes from the controlled fermentation process using watermelon and selected yeast during processing—not from the coffee variety itself. This method is intentionally used to create a unique and expressive flavour profile.