Peru, Jaén, Jorge Alarcon, Gesha

Juicy and tart with approachable, exotic, and big flavors. More Peru than Gesha. Think of a big washed Kenya with Shortbread and buttery notes.

We Taste: Orange blossom, stone fruit, toffee, kiwi, rice candy, shortbread.

Origin: Peru 

Region:  Jaén, San José del Alto, in Cajamarca

Farm/Washing Station/Mill- Jorge Alarcon, Finca La Suegra, El Progreso

Variety: Gesha

Altitude: 1600 masl

Process Method: Washed

Roast level: Origin

Roasting Notes: This was a very challenging coffee for me to get ready for sale. I have roasting experience with La Esmerelda's 1,500 meter Panama Gesha. And a couple early Colombian Geshas. All washed. So I started with my Panama Gesha profile. This is one of my fastest/shortest profiles. I liked the results but I felt like it lacked sweetness and complexity. So light the acidity eclipsed all qualities and flavor nuisance. Too sample roast like. Then I went the completely other direction. Because this is a big dense bean. My super long low and slow Kenya profile. I wasn't happy with this either as it was too long and it lost way too much nuisance. Then I just took a couple weeks for my roaster brain to figure it out. Honestly if I wasn't running a small business this would have taken at most a couple days.  But eventually the roaster brain was like..Hey I think all we need to do is either go a little longer in dev or a little  father in temperature(darker). The first attempt was longer by 11% and it was an improvement. Then I did the other also. Added degrees and ended up with 7 more.  So I got it after adding 11% to dev time and 7 degrees to dev movement darker. I'm really happy with this complex Peru Gesha cup! 

Sourcing Notes: I really wanted a Gesha variety this year. I started, really focused on the Panama flavor profile. But realized early on that a non Panama won't taste the same as a Panama. This was a neat learning experience. As I never really thought about how certain varieties are taken and developed to a very high quality at these origins. When you relocate a famous variety, it now tastes like the coffee from that location. It's a flavor hybrid;-)   So I contracted a Colombia Cauca Gesha, on a SASNAS contract. It was too nutty for me to be a Gesha offering. I moved my contract to 5 more Geshas from 2 more countries and 1 additional process. But I still had no luck. Then this lovely Peru Gesha arrived as a sample. I've always loved Peruvian coffee. And it added a juicy big acid quality to the cup that for me wasn't Gesha but was delicious! Special thanks to Nicole at Cafe Imports for helping me and putting up with me during this search for the first Xozio Gesha!  

Coffee Info/Story: Finca La Suegra, owned by Jorge Alarcón, is a celebrated coffee farm located in the picturesque region of Jaén, San José del Alto, in Cajamarca, Peru. Nestled at an elevation of 1,600 meters above sea level, the farm benefits from the region’s ideal conditions for cultivating high-quality coffee. The altitude, combined with fertile soils and a favorable climate, contributes to the distinctive flavor profiles of the coffee produced here.Jorge is deeply committed to meticulous and sustainable farming practices. The coffee production process begins with a careful selection of ripe cherries, guided by specific harvesting recommendations Jorge shares with his team to ensure quality. After harvesting, the beans are floated in water and vats to remove defects, such as bad beans or under-ripes. The coffee undergoes fermentation for 40-45 hours in bags, is washed in a vat tank, and dried in a solar tent to maintain its exceptional quality. Once dried, the beans are stored securely in bags until they are ready for export.To nurture his farm’s health and productivity, Jorge employs sustainable practices, including planting shade trees, enriching the soil with raw materials, and protecting local water resources. The farm operates within a supportive community framework, where groups of 10 to 15 producers collaborate, rotating responsibilities for various agricultural tasks. This collective approach strengthens the community and ensures efficient operations.The workforce at Finca La Suegra includes a mix of local and regional workers, some of whom are hired on a monthly basis to ensure consistent labor during the coffee harvest. Jorge’s vision extends beyond producing exceptional coffee. He is committed to being an outstanding coffee producer while preserving the environment and fostering a sustainable livelihood. By maintaining a balance between environmental stewardship, community collaboration, and economic stability, Jorge aims to secure a healthy and prosperous future for his family and his beloved farm. - Cafe Imports