Geisha Coffee Flavor Characteristics and Stories from Different Origins: Ethiopia Geisha Village Coffee Bean Prices

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FrontStreet Coffee often mentions that the same coffee variety, when grown in different locations, or even in different regions or at different altitudes within the same area, will exhibit different flavor characteristics! How exactly do they differ? In this article, FrontStreet Coffee will showcase Gesha Village Gesha coffee beans and Panama Gesha coffee beans, and through cupping, we'll explore the flavor differences between Gesha coffee beans from different regions. We'll also examine whether Ethiopian Gesha Village Gesha and Panama Gesha are the same variety!

A Simple Introduction to Gesha Coffee

Although Gesha variety flavors are delicate, this elegant flavor profile originates from specific growing conditions. The Gesha variety is quite particular about its growing environment, requiring high-altitude cultivation with cloud shade or extensive shade tree coverage, and fertile soil. In other words, to maximize Gesha coffee's floral advantages, high altitude is essential! This is why Panama's Hacienda La Esmeralda Gesha coffee is world-famous—first for its reputation, and second because other regions cannot replicate its unique altitude and climate conditions. Even within the same La Esmeralda estate, Gesha coffee beans grown below 1500m already show less prominent floral aromas, which is why the estate grades their Gesha coffee by altitude.

The earliest Gesha coffee seeds were discovered in 1931 in the virgin forests of Ethiopia. Later, Ethiopia sent the discovered Gesha to a coffee research institute in Kenya. In 1936, it was introduced to Uganda and Tanzania, in 1953 to Costa Rica, and in 1970 to Panama. So are the Ethiopian Gesha Village Gesha and Panama Gesha that FrontStreet Coffee carries the same Gesha variety?

Ethiopian Gesha Village Gesha Coffee

The Gesha from Gesha Village was discovered when estate owner Adam followed BOP judge Willem Boot on expeditions into surrounding forests. In a dense jungle area (known as Gori Gesha Forest), they discovered multiple wild coffee varieties, with the most exciting find being the original native Gesha variety. They collected seeds from these native Gesha trees, screened them, then planted and researched them at Gesha Village. Eventually, they developed three varieties: Gori Gesha, Gesha 1931, and Illubabor Forest. The first two are both Gesha varieties, while Illubabor Forest is a disease-resistant variety provided by the Ethiopian Research Institute.

The Gori Gesha variety comes from the wild coffee forest near the estate (Gori Gesha Forest) and encompasses the genetic diversity of Gesha, hence named after the forest. Gesha 1931 was selected from multiple Gesha varieties in the Gori Gesha Forest. Based on coffee plant morphology, bean appearance, and cupping results, Gesha 1931 is closest to Panama Gesha. It was named Gesha 1931, with "1931" inspired by the year when the Gesha variety was discovered in Ethiopia—1931. The Gesha Village Gold Label that FrontStreet Coffee carries uses the Gesha 1931 variety. Let's look at the cupping performance of this bean.

What is Gesha Village Gold Label Gesha Coffee Beans?

Gold Label accounts for only 5% of Gesha Village's annual production and can be considered on par with competition-grade batches. Competition participants from around the world typically select these batches—for example, at the 2018 WBC World Championship held in the Netherlands, both the Australian and Japanese champions chose Gold Label batches to compete! Roasters with high quality standards also purchase these beans, which offer complete traceability, prominent and complex flavors in each batch, making them the second-best grade after competition lots.

FrontStreet Coffee — Gesha Village Oma 059 Batch
Grade: Rarities (Gold) Label
Processing: Natural (32 days)
Variety: Gesha 1931
Country: Ethiopia
Region: Bench Maji
Altitude: 1,931-2,040 meters

FrontStreet Coffee Cupping Report:
Dry Aroma: Citrus
Wet Aroma: Fermented notes
Flavor: Citrus, floral, cream, fermented wine notes, berries

Panama La Esmeralda Gesha

For comparison purposes, FrontStreet Coffee selected Esmeralda Special Gesha coffee beans from La Esmeralda estate—what we commonly call "Red Label." Red Label Gesha batches are grown at altitudes of 1600-1800 meters with cupping scores above 90 points, mainly from the Jaramillo and Canas Verdes regions. La Esmeralda Red Label batches also offer complete traceability, allowing tracing back to specific plots. The La Esmeralda Red Label Gesha coffee beans that FrontStreet Coffee acquired are also processed using the natural method.

Jaramillo has an annual rainfall of 4000ml, with average daytime temperatures of 19-25°C and nighttime temperatures of 11-15°C, at an average altitude of 1600-1700m. The Jaramillo plots are subdivided into 5 small plots: Mario, Noria, Reina, Bosque, and Buenos Aires.

Canas Verdes has an annual rainfall of 3500ml, with average daytime temperatures of 16-23°C and nighttime temperatures of 10-15°C, at an average altitude of 1600-1800m. Canas Verdes includes 9 small plots: Lino, Coronado, Fundador, Leon, Montaa, Trapiche, Chinta, Cabaa, and Tumaco.

FrontStreet Coffee — La Esmeralda Red Label Gesha Coffee Beans
Region: Boquete, Panama
Estate: Hacienda La Esmeralda
Plot: Canas Verdes, Mario Plot
Altitude: 1700m+
Processing: Natural processing method

FrontStreet Coffee Cupping Report
Dry Aroma: Jasmine, citrus
Wet Aroma: Citrus, lemon, honey
Taste: Lemon, honey, berries, orange peel, mango, cream, citrus, tea-like notes

FrontStreet Coffee Brewing Comparison

Through cupping, FrontStreet Coffee found that Gesha coffee beans from both regions have excellent juiciness. To better express the fermented smooth texture and juice-like sweet-sour sensation brought by natural processing, FrontStreet Coffee uses 90°C water temperature for brewing and a V60 filter to enhance the layered complexity of Gesha coffee.

Filter: V60 #01
Dose: 15g
Ratio: 1:15
Grind: Fine sugar (78% pass-through rate on #20 sieve)
Water Temperature: 90°C

FrontStreet Coffee Step-by-step Extraction Method: First, use 30g of water to fully wet the coffee grounds into a "hamburger" shape and let it bloom for 30 seconds. For the second pour, at 1'00" on the timer, inject water to reach 125g, then wait until the water level drops to 2/3 of the coffee bed before starting the third pour. For the third pour, at 1'45" on the timer, inject water to reach 225g, and wait for all coffee liquid to finish dripping. The total extraction time is 2'02". After extraction is complete, gently shake the server to ensure the coffee liquid is well-mixed before tasting.

La Esmeralda Red Label Gesha Brewing Flavor: Bright rose and citrus aromas, brown rice, berries, apricot, complex fruits, honey, with a rich juiciness, rich flavor layers, and prominent sweetness.

Gesha Village Gold Label Gesha Brewing Flavor: Noticeable fermented notes on entry, citrus aroma, floral, berry-like sweet and sour, creamy smoothness, gentle acidity, medium sweetness, with a medium-long finish.

Therefore, from the above comparison, Gesha Village's Gesha 1931 and Panama Gesha have similar appearances, but based on FrontStreet Coffee's cupping and brewing flavor evaluation, these two Gesha coffee beans have significant differences. Their relationship is at best the same ethnic group, but everything else can be said to have their own characteristics! Gesha coffee beans from both regions are worth careful tasting—they offer two different experiences.

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