About Gesha Village Coffee Estate: Background and Story

From Ethiopia's Gesha Village Estate, one could say it has been a hot topic in the specialty coffee industry in recent years. Different grades of Ethiopian Gesha coffee beans from this estate have been used by many world-class coffee competition contestants, helping Ethiopia, the kingdom of coffee, return to its peak.

Ethiopia Gesha Village

Gesha Village Estate is located in western Ethiopia, in the Bench Maji region, surrounded by dense jungle. The location of Gesha Village boasts beautiful scenery and pleasant weather, with views of ancient and vast forests from higher elevations.

The estate owners, Adam and Rachel, were commissioned in 2007 to shoot a documentary about coffee in Ethiopia. As filming progressed, their deeper contact with Ethiopia's land and people sparked the dream of establishing their own estate. Everything took a breakthrough turn when they met Willem Boot. Even the estate's location selection, variety selection, and processing methods were greatly influenced by Willem Boot.

In 2009, they had the good fortune to meet the renowned Don Pachi estate owner and BOP judge Willem Boot. Willem Boot's idea of "returning to Ethiopia to find the birthplace of Gesha" provided the opportunity for the couple.

In 2011, they returned to Bench Maji, where several areas were called Gesha Village and were the most likely regions to find native Gesha varieties. Guided by locals, they ventured into the forest, Gesha's original homeland. Gesha Village Estate covers approximately 471 hectares, with about 320 hectares dedicated to coffee cultivation, featuring brown-red loamy soil. Planting density is maintained at 7,000 coffee trees per hectare.

These coffee trees are planted at elevations above 1,900 meters. The high altitude allows coffee trees to grow slowly, giving coffee berries more time to accumulate nutrients. Gesha Village Estate is divided into 8 blocks, each planted with single varieties, so in Gesha Village Estate, single-block batches also ensure single-variety purity.

Gesha Village Block Distinctions

Bangi

The Bangi block is located on the eastern side of Gesha Village Estate, at elevations from 1,911 to 2,001 meters. This block is responsible for cultivating the Gorri Gesha variety, covering approximately 54 hectares. Gesha from the Bangi block typically features honeysuckle and spice aromas, with rich dark chocolate and spice flavors blended with red fruit, black tea, and blackcurrant notes.

Dimma

The Dimma block is located in the center of Gesha Village Estate, at elevations from 1,966 to 2,019 meters, cultivating the Illubabor variety over 28.7 hectares. Coffee from this block often exhibits coffee flower aromas and stone fruit flavors, mixed with fresh citrus notes.

Gaylee

The Gaylee block is located on the southeast side of Gesha Village Estate. Like the Dimma block, it cultivates the Illubabor variety at elevations from 1,916 to 1,982 meters. Official descriptions note that this block's cupping profile features fruit and spice flavors, along with lemongrass and jasmine notes.

Oma

The Oma block is located on the south side of Gesha Village Estate, at elevations from 1,931 to 2,040 meters, cultivating the Gesha 1931 variety over a total area of 67.6 hectares. The Oma block features rich jasmine aromas, with subtle notes of peach, apricot, preserved fruit, melon, and sweet tangerine, blended with honey sweetness.

Narsha

The Narsha block is located toward the east side of Gesha Village Estate, adjacent to the west side of the Gaylee block. With a small cultivation area of only 5.3 hectares, it grows the Gesha 1931 variety. Official descriptions note honeysuckle, yellow fruits, lime, dark chocolate, peach, apricot, rose, clean acidity, and a bergamot aftertaste.

Surma

The Surma block is located on the southwest side of Gesha Village Estate, at elevations from 1,909 to 2,063 meters, covering 45.9 hectares and cultivating the Gesha 1931 variety. Coffee from the Surma block features jasmine and rose aromas, with flavors reminiscent of strawberry, watermelon, apple, and delicate spices.

Jibabu

The Shewa-Jibabu block is located northwest of Gesha Village Estate, at elevations from 1,973 to 2,069 meters, covering 48.5 hectares and cultivating the Gorri Gesha variety. Gesha from this block often features spices, strawberry, ripe peach, papaya, floral notes, dark chocolate, orange, and bergamot flavors.

Shaya

The Shaya block is located on the north side of Gesha Village Estate, covering 36.5 hectares and responsible for producing Gesha Village's Gorri Gesha. Official descriptions note that Gesha coffee from this block carries subtle aromas of jasmine, bergamot, and orange, along with rich dark chocolate, cherry, molasses, lemon, berries, and apple notes.

Gesha Village Grading System

At Gesha Village, every step of cultivation and processing strives for uncompromising quality. At their coffee laboratory in Addis Ababa and following SCA official standards, they carefully select each batch through strict cupping processes and implement rigorous grading to ensure buyers receive the highest quality coffee beans.

Since its establishment, Gesha Village Estate has consistently garnered attention. Coffee from the estate is divided into several grades: AUCTION, RARITIES Gold Label, GROWERS RESERVE Red Label, SINGLE-TERROIR Green Label, and CHAKA batches.

Definition of Gesha Village Gold Label Grade

Gold Label batches account for about 10% of Gesha Village Estate's annual production, featuring complex and very rare flavors. These rare coffees represent the highest quality coffee from Gesha Village Estate aside from auction lots.

Many baristas choose Gold Label batches for their competition beans, while quality-focused roasters also purchase them. They offer complete traceability, with each batch featuring prominent and complex flavors.

FrontStreet Coffee's Gold Label Gesha coffee beans for this new harvest season come from the Oma block, processed using natural drying for 32 days, with the variety being the Oma block's exclusive Gesha 1931.

What is the Gesha 1931 Variety?

Gesha 1931 is confirmed by observing plant morphology, bean shape and size, and its cupping profile. It is the closest to the parent plant of Panama Gesha.

Through cupping comparisons, FrontStreet Coffee found that the new harvest Gesha Village Gold Label coffee beans exhibit rich berry aromas, full cantaloupe body, citrus-like bright acidity, chamomile-like floral notes, and a tea-like aftertaste.

How to Brew Gesha Village Gold Label?

To preserve the unique bright acidity of Ethiopian coffee beans, FrontStreet Coffee has adopted a medium-light roast level. Coffee beans from high-altitude regions have naturally less dense structures. Due to the shorter roasting time, the coffee bean structure hasn't changed significantly, making extraction of substances more challenging.

Therefore, when brewing medium-light roast coffee beans, FrontStreet Coffee recommends using medium-fine grind (granulated sugar consistency, 80% pass-through rate with China #20 standard sieve). Use 15g of coffee powder with a V60 dripper, water temperature of 90-91°C, 1:15 coffee-to-water ratio, and a three-stage pouring technique.

First, wet the filter paper and preheat the dripper and coffee server. Use 30g of water for a 30-second bloom, then pour in a small circular motion to 125g for the first stage. When the water level drops to just before exposing the coffee bed, continue pouring in circular motion to 225g and stop. When the water level drops to just before exposing the coffee bed, remove the dripper (timing starts from bloom). Total extraction time is approximately 2 minutes.

Brewing Flavor Profile of Gesha Village Gold Label Coffee Beans

Berry-like sweet aroma, full and rich body, with some chamomile and raspberry flavors, and an aftertaste featuring cantaloupe notes and a tea-like sensation.

Important Notice :

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