A Gold Medal Worth Celebrating
Every now and then, a special coffee comes along that leaves us lost for words. This year, that coffee is Colombia Jhoan Vergara.
We're incredibly proud that this exceptional coffee was awarded Gold in the Elite Category at the 2026 Golden Bean Australasia competition, the world's largest coffee roasting competition. It's an achievement that recognises not only the skill that goes into roasting exceptional coffee but also the extraordinary work happening thousands of kilometres away on a hillside in Colombia.
Awards are exciting—and we're certainly celebrating this one—but for us, the real story isn't about a medal. It's about people, partnership and a shared pursuit of extraordinary coffee. But, wow! This coffee is on another level. If there was a chance to have your mind blown, this is it.
Meet the Producer: Jhoan Vergara
Behind every remarkable coffee is a remarkable producer, and Jhoan Vergara is a perfect example of the next generation of Colombian coffee growers.
Born in Pitalito, Huila, Jhoan grew up surrounded by coffee. As the son of coffee producers Edilberto Vergara and Nubia Ayure, coffee farming wasn't simply a profession—it was part of everyday life. Alongside his siblings, he learned the rhythms of agriculture from an early age, developing a deep respect for both the land and the craft of coffee production.
What sets Jhoan apart is the way he has combined this family heritage with technical expertise. After completing his education in Pitalito, he continued his studies through SENA, specialising in specialty coffee production while building skills in roasting, physical and sensory analysis, advanced cupping and coffee evaluation.
The result is a producer who understands coffee at every stage of its journey. Every decision, from processing to fermentation, is made with the final cup firmly in mind.
We've had the privilege of showcasing several of Jhoan's coffees over the years, and each one has demonstrated the same commitment to innovation, precision and quality. This latest release may be our favourite yet.
Coffee That Pushes Boundaries
Colombia Jhoan Vergara isn't a coffee that quietly sits in the background.
It's expressive. It's playful. It's beautifully complex.
Expect vibrant notes of banana, bubblegum and rose, wrapped in a creamy, fruit-forward sweetness that somehow feels both adventurous and beautifully balanced.
The secret lies in the processing... but we'll get to that!
This Red Bourbon coffee is grown in Finca La Flores in the Bruselas region of Huila at elevations between 1,790 and 1,900 metres, where cool mountain conditions help develop exceptional sweetness and complexity.
After harvest, the coffee undergoes what is known as the Creamy Cultured Brilliance (CCB) Natural Process. Developed using carefully controlled lactic acid bacteria (LAB) fermentation, the process is designed to build texture, sweetness and complexity while maintaining remarkable clarity in the cup.
The result is exactly what the name promises.
Creamy Cultured Brilliance creates a luxurious mouthfeel alongside vibrant fruit character. Think cultured dairy notes reminiscent of yoghurt layered with baked fruits, strawberry, watermelon and jam-like sweetness. Combined with the natural characteristics of the Red Bourbon variety, it creates an unforgettable sensory experience. It's a lot to take in and express in only three words. Where we landed was 'banana, bubblegum and rose'. But does that even do it justice?
According the Brian, White Horse Coffee's Head Roaster, the coffee 'exceeded expectations. Bubblegum, yes, banana lollies as well!'. As a fund fact, Brian notes:
'It’s very special. As special as the first time I drank Geisha from La Esmeralda in 2009 at the Mecca Espresso Roastery before going to a heavy metal gig with Dom'.
For those in the know, that's huge!
It's a coffee that surprises you from the very first sip—and keeps revealing something new as it cools.
The Magic Happens in the Roast
Exceptional green coffee is only part of the equation.
Roasting is where potential becomes reality.
Highly expressive coffees like this demand a careful balance. Every stage of the roast needs to preserve sweetness while allowing the vibrant fruit character and creamy body to shine without overwhelming the delicate floral notes.
That's exactly what our roasting team set out to achieve.
Winning Gold at Golden Bean Australasia is a wonderful recognition of that work, but it's also validation of something we believe deeply: when incredible green coffee is treated with respect and roasted with intention, extraordinary things happen.
The judges agreed.
Against some of the region's best roasters, Colombia Jhoan Vergara stood out as a coffee worthy of Gold.
More Than a Competition Coffee
It's tempting to think of award-winning coffees as something to admire from afar.
But this all said, we're here to drink it, and share it with our coffee community and super excited to showcase it as part of our Unicorn Adventures Range—a collection dedicated to coffees that challenge expectations and showcase just how exciting specialty coffee can be. This was the perfect fit!
Roasted as an omni roast to optimise the expression, this coffee finds a home as either espresso or filter, technically. However, we'd strongly recommend the brewing as a filter at least once to take in the most end-to-end experience. Try it as espresso? Yes, sure. But be prepared for a tasting and olfactory experience that may leave you speechless. There is a lot going on! The flavour is looking for a home.
Whether you're chasing syrupy candied-sweetness through espresso or exploring its layered complexity with a pour-over, Colombia Jhoan Vergara rewards curiosity. That, we can guarantee.
Every brew seems to uncover another flavour waiting to be discovered.
A Shared Victory
While the medal may sit on our shelf, it represents the work of countless hands.
It belongs to producers willing to innovate.
It belongs to families who dedicate generations to coffee farming.
It belongs to everyone involved in transporting, milling, evaluating and roasting each precious lot.
Most of all, it celebrates the partnership between producer and roaster—a relationship built on trust, shared passion and an unwavering commitment to quality.
Working with producers like Jhoan Vergara reminds us why sourcing relationships matter so much. Great coffee isn't created in isolation. It's the result of collaboration between people who all share the same goal: creating something unforgettable.
Here's to the Next Adventure
Winning Gold at Golden Bean Australasia is an incredible milestone, and we're honoured that Colombia Jhoan Vergara has earned that recognition.
From the volcanic soils of Huila to our roastery and finally into your cup, this coffee tells a story of craftsmanship, innovation and possibility.
We can't wait for you to experience the magic for yourself.
After all, medals are wonderful—but sharing exceptional coffee is what really gets us excited.
Bring on that banana and bubblegum!
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