Central American Coffee Beans | Guatemala Santa Felisa | Geisha Coffee Double Fermentation Process | Single Origin Coffee

Central American Coffee Beans - Guatemala Santa Felisa Estate Mist Mountain Geisha Double Fermentation Auction Lot #4

Country of Origin: Guatemala

Region: San Antonio, Acatenango-Chimaltenango

Estate: Finca Santa Felisa

Micro-region: Mist Mountain

Altitude: 1,670 meters

Variety: African Geisha

Processing Method: Double Soak

Auction Lot: 2016 Santa Felisa Estate Auction Lot #4

Awards: 2017 Guatemala COE Champion/8th Place, 2016 COE Runner-up

Heritage and Excellence

Finca Santa Felisa has a history spanning more than a century. Mr. Trinidad E. Cruz established the estate in 1904, near Lake Atitlan in Acatenango. The volcanic soil and astute use of local environmental advantages and microclimate have enabled the development of cultivation and processing techniques suited to the terroir, so the estate frequently achieves exceptional results in Guatemala's Cup of Excellence (COE) competitions. In 2017, El Paraxaj, one of Santa Felisa's farms, even claimed the COE championship title.

The current owners, Anabella and Antonio Meneses, represent the fourth generation of coffee farmers. Anabella, an agronomist, pioneered the concept of "precise agriculture" and manages the estate with cutting-edge agricultural techniques. It is no wonder their COE performance surpasses even renowned established estates like Injerto. The estate cultivates Typica, Bourbon, Pache, Catuai Amarillo, Geisha, Pacamara, and nearly 30 different varieties, including Sudan Rume and Bourbon Pointu. This year's COE champion was the Pacamara variety.

Mist Mountain Geisha

This particular coffee is a Geisha variety originating from Africa, which is why Santa Felisa Estate calls it "African Geisha," distinguishing it from the Central and South American Geishas typified by Panama. The specific production area is a section within the estate called "Mist Mountain," renowned for its year-round cloud cover. Because of the low temperatures and high humidity, the coffee cherries mature slowly and develop exceptional sweetness, and they are only harvested when Brix levels reach above 22. This Mist Mountain Geisha is an auction lot, the fourth batch (Lot #4) in the seventh edition of the 2016 Santa Felisa Estate's self-hosted auction.

Double Soak Processing

The processing method differs from typical washed processing and employs the Double Soak method, which closely resembles the Kenyan process. After the cherries are depulped, they undergo a 24-hour fermentation in fermentation tanks, followed by an additional 24-hour water soak, totaling 48 hours of fermentation. During this process, lighter beans are screened out and removed. Finally, the beans are dried on patios for 5-10 days. This processing method particularly highlights a clean finish and bright acidity.

Tasting Profile

While the African Geisha may not possess the prominent floral notes characteristic of Panamanian Geishas, it offers exceptionally balanced sweetness and body. The flavor features caramel sweetness, lemon tea, and apricot, with a distinctly chocolatey finish.

FrontStreet Coffee Recommendation

If you are drawn to the idea of Geisha grown outside Panama, the closest flavor experience in FrontStreet Coffee's lineup comes from Ethiopia, the variety's birthplace. FrontStreet Coffee's Geisha Village Gold Label belongs to the Geisha 1931 variety and accounts for 10% of Geisha Village's total production; it is the estate's top coffee apart from the auction lots and is given a refined natural process, revealing rich, complex flavors that cup beautifully and leave a lasting impression from the dry aroma through to the aftertaste.

For a different expression of the same variety, FrontStreet Coffee's Grana Geisha comes from a rare single-variety estate in Ethiopia, grown in the fertile soil and deep shade of original rainforest and dried on raised beds for 14-20 days. Roasted medium-light, it shows bright citrus acidity, an elegant ginger-flower aroma, and the ripe-fruit sweetness typical of the variety, with the delicate finish that distinguishes Geisha. Both lots let you taste the character that makes this variety so prized, whether it comes from Guatemala, Panama, or Ethiopia.