Tasting Notes: Honey, Blood Orange, Red Grapes
Hale Taste Scale: 9 - pretty adventurous and sweet
Varietals: Caturra
Process: Washed with thermal shock
Elevation: 1,900 masl
Region: Piendamó, Cauca
Producer : Wilton Benitez
The El Paraiso 92 Story:
Grown and processed by Wilton Benitez, a seasoned coffee producer with over 26 years in the field and more than 16 years specializing in high-end specialty coffee. Wilton is not only a roaster and Q-grader processor, but also a lifelong cupper whose sensory skills have been honed over decades.
Finca Paraíso 92 is a family-run farm in Colombia, located near the equator—a region known for producing some of the world’s finest coffees. The consistent, intense sunlight at this latitude allows coffee plants to thrive at higher elevations, which translates into exceptional quality in the cup. The farm uses advanced agricultural practices like terracing, drip irrigation, selective shading, and lab-driven nutritional strategies to bring out the best in every harvest.
Paraíso 92 is also home to a full-scale processing plant, a microbiology lab, and a quality control lab—all designed and built by Wilton and his brother. Their setup enables them to carry out a wide range of processing methods, including washed, honey, natural, and both single and double anaerobic fermentation. Using custom-built bioreactors and specific microorganisms, each fermentation is precisely monitored for temperature, pH, Brix, and electrical conductivity. This scientific approach allows for highly distinct, clean, and repeatable flavor profiles.
Each batch begins with meticulous cherry selection and sterilization, followed by a two-phase fermentation process. The coffee is first fermented anaerobically with a specific strain of microorganism, then pulped and fermented again. A final thermal shock step—hot and cold water rinses—is used to enhance the coffee's aromatic and flavor complexity. Even the drying equipment on the farm is eco-conscious, operating without fossil fuels and using minimal electricity to reduce environmental impact.
