Gesha
Washed Jaramillo
Hacienda La Esmeralda

Tastes Like: Cherry Blossom, Lychee, Dragon Well

Origin: Jaramillo, Hacienda La Esmeralda, Panama

Variety: Gesha

Producer: The Peterson Family

Elevation: 1700-1800 masl

Process:  Washed

Farm and Producer

The Jaramillo mountain air is wet and cold, perfect for making the aromatics of the Geisha variety sing. Though Geisha variety coffees had been planted sporadically across the area, it was a lot separated out from one small region on this farm that led to the rediscovery of Geisha. The farm rises, from rolling hills on its lower part, to steep 40 degree inclines higher up, making harvesting a manual and challenging affair. There had been coffee planted on the lower parts of the farm – as many as 15 different sub-varieties, hybrids out of Costa Rica and Brazil, and in 1997 the Peterson family decided to plant higher up.

It is these high altitudes that the Geisha’s bright, floral aromatics express themselves. With cooler temperatures and massive shade trees that have been standing for ages, Jaramillo is the perfect place for this variety to grow. To this day many of the estate’s Gesha microlots come from little patches on the slopes of Jaramillo.

Variety

Gesha, also spelled Geisha, is an Arabica variety with Ethiopian origins. It is valued for high cup-quality potential and floral aromatics, especially under suitable high-elevation growing conditions. Its expression also depends on cultivation, processing, and roasting.

Processing

In washed processing, the fruit pulp and remaining mucilage are removed before the coffee is dried. This approach often emphasizes a defined structure and separation of flavors, while fermentation and drying choices still influence the result.