32 - The Coffee Trend Competitions Are Banning

Podium Coffee Club - https://tidd.ly/4qo2NCs

Co-fermentation has exploded in the coffee industry. Farmers are fermenting coffee with fruits, hops, and exotic yeasts to create wild new flavors. Some see it as innovation that helps farmers add value to their crops. Others see it as a shortcut that's damaging the pursuit of natural coffee excellence.

The debate got real when Best of Panama 2024 outright banned all co-fermented and infused coffees from competition. So what's really going on? Is this the future of specialty coffee, or are we losing something important? We break down co-fermentation vs infusion, the farmer economics, competition implications, and our honest take after tasting dozens of these experimental coffees.

We're drinking Colombia Galaxy Hops Co-ferment from Freelance Coffee. - freelancecoffeeproject.com

Want to experience award-winning coffees like the one we're drinking in this episode? Podium Coffee Club is a monthly subscription that sends you coffees exclusively from roasters who've won championships and competitions. Every coffee has been recognized for excellence, so you're guaranteed something special each month. It's how we discover incredible roasters we might never find otherwise. Sign up using our link and support the podcast

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Let us know what's your take on co-ferments? Are you team innovation or team purist? 👇

0:00 Industry Standards

0:31 What We're Drinking

3:38 Podium Coffee Club

8:04 What Is Co-Fermentation?

10:03 Fermentation Refresher

21:00 Co-Fermentation vs. Infusion

27:37 Pros & Cons

38:12 Consumer Perspective & Transparency

42:44 Co-Ferments in Competition

44:46 Purist Philosophy & Industry Direction

53:47 Listener Questions

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