{"product_id":"the-fermentation-project-tasting-set","title":"The Fermentation Project Tasting Kit: Kustomcoffee Edition","description":"\u003csection class=\"intro\"\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eOne coffee. Four fermentations. One question: what does fermentation actually do to flavor?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe're proud to be a participating roaster in \u003ca title=\"The fermentation Project\" href=\"https:\/\/thefermentationproject.com\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Fermentation Project\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e, a global cupping event created by James Hoffmann (2007 World Barista Champion and the most-watched educator in specialty coffee) and fermentation scientist Lucia Solis.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOn Saturday, October 3, 2026, coffee lovers around the world will cup these same four coffees together, guided live by James Hoffmann. You'll be tasting in real time alongside thousands of people on every continent — including us, right here at Kustomcoffee.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"border: 2px dotted red; margin: 10px 0px; padding: 7px; text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThis is a preorder. Coffee will ship mid-September 2026.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ciframe width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Iq34gq2ihMk?si=fYZNBxyQb34zKegN\" title=\"YouTube video player\"\u003e\u003c\/iframe\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe farm created four versions of one coffee to isolate what fermentation and processing do to it. People rarely get to taste a \"fermented\" coffee next to its own unfermented control — this project makes that comparison possible for the first time, side by side, in your own cup.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThat means when you taste these four coffees together, any difference you notice — brightness, body, sweetness, mouthfeel, aftertaste — comes from how the coffee was processed after picking. It's the cleanest side-by-side comparison most coffee drinkers will ever get to do at home.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe've had the green coffee in-house since late July, and we're sample roasting now to lock in the ideal profile for each of the four lots — because doing this comparison justice means every coffee needs to be roasted with equal care, not roasted to hide its differences.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThis is a unique event, and our kits are limited. When they're gone, they're gone — we won't be roasting or restocking once preorders close mid-September.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhat's in the kit\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFour 150g bags of whole bean coffee. If you want to retain the mystery till you cup, we can blind label them with just the coffee numbers, on request. Please check the Blind Samples box if you'd like us to label your shipment with numbers 1 through 4 instead of the coffee names.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eThe Coffees\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eMechanically Washed\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNo fermentation at all. Mucilage removed mechanically right after harvest, so this cup's profile comes purely from growing practice and genetics — your reference point for the other three.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWild Fermentation\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA traditional 48-hour submerged ferment using local, naturally occurring wild microbes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eLactobacillus Fermentation\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA controlled 48-hour submerged ferment inoculated with a specific Lactobacillus culture, boosting organic acid production.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eSaccharomyces Yeast Fermentation\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA controlled 48-hour submerged ferment inoculated with saccharomyces yeast, boosting flavor precursor production.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/section\u003e\n\u003csection class=\"faq\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"wrap\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"faq-grid\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"faq-item\"\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eDo I need to be an expert taster?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNot at all. The entire point of this project is to make an advanced comparison accessible — bring curiosity, we'll bring the coffee.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"faq-item\"\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eCan I get ground coffee instead of whole bean?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe \u003cem\u003ereally, really\u003c\/em\u003e encourage to grind the whole beans before brewing. If you don't have a grinder, please \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/a.co\/d\/00nO49GE\"\u003egrab one of these\u003c\/a\u003e before the tasting. Your palate will continue to thank you every time you use it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"faq-item\"\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhen exactly will my kit ship?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMid-September 2026, timed so your coffee has time to rest before the October 3rd tasting.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"faq-item\"\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhat if I need to cancel my order?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEmail sales@kustomcoffee.com within 14 days of pre-ordering for a full refund. After that window, the order is final. \u003cstrong\u003eOrders placed after September 5, 2026 cannot be canceled.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"faq-item\"\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eCould preorders close before September 14?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes. We're working with a limited amount of green coffee for this project. If we sell through it before September 14, preorders will close early. We will notify you on this very page if that should happen,\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/section\u003e","brand":"Kustomcoffee","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48836685725921,"sku":null,"price":40.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0769\/3149\/8209\/files\/fermentation-project-green-bags.png?v=1785653780","url":"https:\/\/kustomcoffee.com\/products\/the-fermentation-project-tasting-set","provider":"Kustomcoffee","version":"1.0","type":"link"}