Why We Love This Coffee

Solara is a Orange Bourbon from Wilton Benítez at Granja Paraiso 92. It shows a different side of Colombian coffee. The processing is advanced and precise, yet the cup is a clean washed expression. Wilton was our gateway into controlled fermentations and thermal shock. This lot reminds us why we were drawn in. Bright. Sweet. Clear. Full of orange and citrus.

We called it Solara because it feels like bright light and energy in the cup.

Origin

Piendamó in Cauca, Colombia. Harvest 2025. Granja Paraiso 92 sits at high elevation with cool nights and steady rainfall. The farm runs its own processing facility and laboratory. That control lets Wilton guide flavour at each step and repeat the results across harvests.

Producer

Wilton Benítez is a producer with a strong background in chemistry and microbiology. He screens and sterilises cherries, selects specific yeast, and measures through every stage. The focus is to steer flavour with intention rather than rely on chance. This lot reached us through Far More who share our interest in traceable, well documented coffees.

Varietal

Orange Bourbon. A natural colour mutation within the Bourbon family, cultivated at Granja Paraiso 92. It keeps the sweetness and structure of Bourbon while presenting a bright citrus leaning profile that fits this process well.

Processing

Double anaerobic with thermal shock. Finished as a washed lot.

Cherries are hand selected and cleaned. The first anaerobic fermentation runs a little over two days in a controlled bioreactor with whole cherries. After pulping, a second anaerobic fermentation runs just under five days in a bioreactor with a selected lager yeast. During both stages Wilton tracks temperature, pH, and Brix to keep the ferment in a stable range.

Once the target is met the parchment goes through thermal shock. Warm water first, cold water after. This locks volatile aromatics, helps sterilise the parchment, and sets the profile. Drying follows in a controlled environment to roughly eleven percent moisture. The result is a washed coffee with high clarity and a strong citrus signature without the heaviness that some experimental lots carry.

Tasting Notes

Bright orange soda. Vanilla. Bergamot. White florals. Sweet citrus. The profile is clean yet complex. On filter it is silky and floral. As espresso it is sweet and citrus forward. With milk it is gentle and low intensity. This coffee does not like to be pushed hard. Lower extractions keep the clarity, the florals, and the silky finish.

Transparency

Green price for our lot was 78 AUD per kilogram before shipping. At Two Places Coffee, we believe that every cup has a story. By sharing the green price of our coffees, we want to give you a clearer picture of the real cost of producing and importing high-quality, sustainably grown coffee. It’s our way of building transparency, supporting ethical farming practices, and creating a stronger connection between you and the people behind each coffee.