Last year, this coffee had gotten quite the rave reviews, and I unfortunately, missed getting it – the coronavirus is to blame here, caused quite a lot of upheavals. So, I was quite determined to get at least one bag of this one the next year, that is this year – 2021. The Pichia Fermentation coffee from Harley Estate is a natural processed coffee produced exclusively for Blue Tokai Coffee Roasters. It is recommended for espresso-based drinks as well as manual brews like AeroPress and Pour Overs.
What is Pichia Fermentation?
Pichia fermentation is the fermentation brought about by the Pichia strain yeasts – simply put. After the coffee cherries are handpicked, they are washed in tanks and left to ferment overnight with this Pichia yeast strain. These yeasts get to work and break down the compounds in the cherries and lead to the development of a unique flavor profile. Once fermentation is complete, the coffee cherries are shifted to raised drying beds and they are raked continuously to bring about even drying of the cherries. This controlled fermentation and drying process gives this coffee a delicious and complex fruity flavor, and it is also what makes it so immensely popular.
What are the particulars of the coffee?
Name: Harley Estate – Pichia
Estate: Harley Estate, Sakleshpur, Karnataka
Type: Arabica beans
Variety: SLN 09
Process: Naturals + Pichia yeast fermentation
Roaster: Blue Tokai Coffee Roaster
Roast: Medium Roast
Tasting notes: Guava, Pineapple, Green apple
Tell us more about the Harley Estate
Located in Sakleshpur, Karnataka, the Harley Estate stands at 945 to 1040 MASL. Here, coffee grows interspersed with areca nuts, pepper, cocoa, and cardamom. The estate, originally owned by the British, has been growing coffee since 1860s. They currently grow a varietal of the SLN 09 of Arabica beans.
About Blue Tokai Coffee Roasters
Blue Tokai Coffee Roasters are the ones who initiated me to the world of specialty coffee all that time ago. I learnt the basics of coffee cupping and coffee roasting at the Blue Tokai cafe in Mahalaxmi (well, I was hung over from the peak-time Amitabh Bachchan movie set-like feeling of walking from the Mahalaxmi local railway station to the cafe, but more on that some other day). They’ve been around for a long, long time now and have introduced us all to some of the finest specialty coffees, working with amazing coffee estates.
So, is Pichia coffee worth all the hype?
Yes, it is totally. The Pichia fermentation coffee is delicious in every sip. It is one of those rare times when I actually get all the tasting notes listed on the packet, and more. I have brewed this coffee on a French Press at a 1:10 ratio. I have brewed this coffee on a pour over at 1:16. After attending the live session Blue Tokai organized where the ratio of 1:15 was recommended, I did it on a pour over at 1:15. I have also tried it as a cold brew. And each time, the coffee has turned out bright, sweet, with a mild floral touch. There’s a lot going on in the cup that it is just complex enough, without becoming overwhelming. I personally enjoy this cup in the afternoons or evenings, sometimes even at night. The bright, fruity coffee adds the right kick to my afternoons and also calms me down after a long day at work. I think the fact that it tastes delicious fresh off the brew, and even 10 minutes later when it has gone considerably tepid makes it just a fascinating experience to have this coffee. With the rains raging outside most times of the day, I just love having this coffee
It is a wonder the magic that the tiny yeast can do, isn’t it? There are multiple variables to control and working with microbes is never really easy. After spending four years studying microbes quite closely, I can say that with quite some confidence, I think.
Special mention to the beautiful artwork at the back of the pack. The packet I bought had a very pretty painting of a coffee tree created by Sukhandi Vyam, a Gond artist from Madhya Pradesh. I strongly believe we must support local artisans and craftsmen, and I really appreciate this effort. The paper bags and coffee bags from Blue Tokai generally tend to have this beautiful artwork on them, and it makes me never want to throw away any of the packaging. I like the art on the packaging.
If you would like to try the Pichia fermentation coffee, buy it right now before it runs out. Here is the link to buy the coffee –
Note: This is not an affiliate link. This is not an advertisement or a paid review. I genuinely bought the coffee on retail sale. The opinions shared above are my own.
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