This is the Stitch Coffee Coffee Isshu-kan Drip Bags Bubble Gum Box, which featured drip coffee bags that have been naturally infused with flavours through an anaerobic fermentation process.

While all coffee goes through fermentation to develop the flavours of coffee and the standard method is done in an oxygen-rich environment such as open-air, anaerobic fermentation means that there was no oxygen present. The coffee is placed into a sealed container or tank and oxygen is removed by pumping in carbon dioxide. This gave coffee producers the freedom to lengthen the fermentation process to unlock unique and exotic flavours that are not commonly found.

Each box contained 10 coffee drip bags: 2 passionfruit envelopes, 2 peach envelopes, 2 strawberry envelopes, 2 orange envelopesand 2 mint envelopes. The coffees were produced using Colombian coffee beans from the regions Armenia and Quindio, specifically, the Castillo varietal (passionfruit, peach, orange) and the Pink Bourbon varietal (strawberry and mint).

Each drip bag had a perforated line that was torn before slipping the handles over the edge of the cup.

The coffee was prepared by slowly pouring 200 mL of water at 95°C into the drip bag slowly and then steeping it for 5 minutes before removing it.

Passionfruit underwent honey-anaerobic fermentation with tartaric acid and passionfruit and was described as having tasting notes of passionfruit, lychee and brownie.

This one had a tropical aroma much like passionfruit-flavoured chocolate. Upon tasting, an initial fruity floral quality emerged at the head before gently tangy tropical notes of passionfruit developed in the body, buoyed by a rich coffee base that indeed recalled a brownie. The acidity was notable, yet not in the same character as usually in an espresso; it was a fruity, fresher acidity, much like a brewed soft drink that was very enjoyable.

Peach underwent honey-anaerobic fermentation with tartaric acid and peach, and was described as having tasting notes of peach jelly, strawberry and honey.

This one had an aroma and flavour that was much like a naturally flavoured peach black tea, but with a more prominent roasted quality that gave it a richer, warmer quality with a subtle sweetness and well-balanced subtle acidity and minimal bitterness.

Strawberry underwent honey-anaerobic fermentation with wine yeast and strawberry and was described as having tasting notes of dehydrated strawberry, cream and kiwi.

This one had a fruity aroma akin to berry-flavoured dark chocolate. Upon tasting, the strawberry notes came through with a creamy kiwi-like flavour at the back of each sip that was well-balanced by the roasted notes of the coffee, yet unlike the passionfruit and peach, a sharp bitterness emerged towards the finish and further reinforced the berry-flavoured dark chocolate first picked up in the aroma.

Orange underwent honey-anaerobic fermentation with wine yeast and orange and was described as having tasting notes of dehydrated orange, panela and orange pulp.

This one had a fresh aroma of orange juice that did not recall a zesty orange-flavoured dark chocolate in the slightest. Upon tasting, the flavour of the orange came through in the background of each sip, remaining fresh much like the juice and the flesh of the fruit and lending a subtle caramel-like sweetness to the coffee. We were delighted that flavour of the orange did not came through overly zesty or acidic, making this one of the most enjoyable flavours in the box.

Mint underwent honey-anaerobic fermentation with just mint herb and was described as having tasting notes of mint, dark chocolate and sweet and sugary.

This one had the aroma of dark chocolate with a subtle hint of mint that came through on tasting in the finish as a subtle freshness. But that ‘cooling feeling’ that’s usually associated with mint was very restrained. The mint was elegantly subtle and complemented the coffee giving it a ‘fresh’ feeling. The acidity was evident but remained enjoyable with minimal bitterness.

Overall, these flavoured drip coffees were an exciting and interesting twist on regular drip coffee, with our favourites being the passionfruit and peach.

This Stitch Coffee Isshu-kan Coffee Drip Bags Bubble Gum Box contained 10 (2x each of passionfruit, peach, strawberry, orange and mint) x 11 g drip bags. It was produced in Australia from coffee originating from Colombia and purchased in Sydney, Australia in 2022.