COLOMBIA | Yeison Vargas

■ FLAVOR COMMENT

It has a gorgeous aroma of elderflower and jasmine, and flavors of honeyed lemon, green apple, and muscat. It also has a fresh fruitiness reminiscent of pear or yellow peach, and nuances of lactic acid. It is also characterized by a pleasantly smooth texture and a long finish, and the highly transparent liquid creates the contours of each flavor.

■ FLAVOR NOTE

Elder Flower, Pear, Muscat, Honey



■ INFORMATION

We are introducing Geisha coffee from Planadas, Tolima, one of the most notable regions in Colombia. Planadas was heavily influenced by guerrillas until the early 2000s, and even today it is not easily accessible, requiring over four hours of travel along unpaved mountain roads and across streams to reach the area.

However, this land certainly possesses great production potential and natural abundance, a quality only known to those who have overcome the arduous journey to the region. This particular lot is a Geisha produced at the El Proceso farm, located at an altitude of 2,000 meters. The producer is Jason Vargas. We have worked with this farm in the past and continue to trust its high quality. For this lot, the Geisha he carefully cultivated was slowly fermented in anaerobic fermentation for 62 hours, before being finished with a honey process. During fermentation, oxygen is blocked and temperatures are strictly controlled, maximizing the potential of the ingredients while maintaining flavor balance and cleanliness.


Geisha is typically known for its floral aroma, but this lot also has the soft, milky texture and gentle sweetness that are characteristic of this region, resulting in a very well-balanced finish overall. This is clearly a Geisha of excellent quality, and its quality is sure to be conveyed to the drinker.

The process was handled by Jorge Elias, who has worked on numerous nearby batches. He placed third in his first COE appearance in 2022 and again in the top ranks in 2023, and is now one of Planadas' leading producers. We regularly cup with Jorge and are working to develop a profile that suits the Asian market.


Since last year, equipment has been installed in the process plant to more precisely control fermentation, further promoting technological improvements and stabilizing quality. The results are already beginning to be seen locally.
Jorge's process will surely continue to evolve. We have already worked with El Proceso several times, and we can expect to continue to produce attractive lots that make the most of the potential of this land and producer.

Country of origin: Colombia
Production area: Planadas, Tolima
Producer: Yeison Vargas
Farm/ Finca El Proceso
Altitude: 2,000m
Variety/Geisha
Refining process/Honey (62h anaerobic fermentation)
Klopp/2024/25
Roast level: Light roast