Colombia: El Tractor, Red Bomb [125g]

*Please note that this coffee is sold in 125g bags – not our regular 220g*

We initially discovered this coffee in an unexpected place – Glasgow! At the 2019 Glasgow Coffee Festival, we met Diana from Colombian Artisan Coffee. She was just starting to import coffee from her native Colombia to the U.K. Diana, originally from San Roque near Medellín, has three brothers who produce coffee in an area with great potential and many small producers.

We’re always on the lookout for new coffees, so conversations like this are common. Diana had something unique that she thought would be perfect for us, and when we tasted it, we agreed.

Fast forward to 2025, and our relationship with El Tractor has grown beyond just buying coffee. We've supported Gabriel Cortes, the owner, through his recovery from a machete injury and helped him power his home with solar energy. We're thrilled to have this wonderful relationship, and you can learn more about the amazing Don Gabriel in our producer story by either scrolling down the page, or clicking here.

Due to Don Gabriel's machete accident, his coffee production was limited last year. Despite being one of the most dedicated coffee producers we buy from, recovery from such an injury naturally impacted his output. Thankfully, he's healthy this year, and his production volume has increased. However, El Tractor remains a one-man operation, producing only a very small amount of coffee, so we have just 2 sacks to enjoy.

The excellent quality Red Bourbon that Don Gabriel grows has undergone a brand new process this year which he's called 'Red Bomb' as he feels it really brings out a lot of red fruit notes. It's been double fermented for a total of 340 hours, precisely temperature controlled throughout. After harvest, the whole cherry was first fermented in open fermentation tanks for 170 hours. From there, it's removed to be depulped while the fermentation liquor (the juices left over from all that lovely microbial activity breaking down the fruit) is left in the tank. The depulped coffee then goes back in for a second 170 hour fermentation under anaerobic conditions.

It's not uncommon to hear a coffee called a 'fruit bomb' and thanks to the innovative fermentation techniques that have been used on this coffee, it's really delivering an explosion of red fruits.

Big and loud, this coffee is very flavour-forward, hitting you with a huge burst of pomegranate. Quickly followed by a glug of red grape juice and a punnet of red cherries, this coffee is a real delight for those of you who love dark fruits. As it cools, a candy-like sweetness comes through, as does the funk of Don Gabriel's unique 'Red Bomb' processing.

• Country: Colombia
• Department: Antioquia
• City: Medellín
• Neighbourhood: La Sierra (Commune 8)
• Farm: El Tractor
• Producer: Gabriel Cortes
• Elevation: 2,300 m.a.s.l.
• Processing method: 'Red Bomb' Extended Fermentation Natural
  
• Varietal: Red Bourbon
• Washing station: Renacer
• Fermentation: 2 x 170 hour fermentations, 1 aerobic and 1 anaerobic, total 340 hours

Tasting notes: Pomegranate, red grape juice, red cherry, funky.

Cup of Excellence Cupping Scores

• Clean cup: (1–8): 6
• Sweetness: (1–8): 7
• Acidity: (1–8): 6.5
• Mouthfeel: (1–8): 6.5
• Flavour: (1–8): 7
• Aftertaste: (1–8): 6.5
• Balance: (1–8): 6
• Overall: (1–8): 6.5
• Correction: (+36): +36
• Total: (max. 100): 88

Roasting Information
Medium dark: a nice steady roast, taking the coffee steadily through first crack and then looking to finish just on the cusp of second crack.