Peru Cajamarca Cafe Garmas Geisha Organic
This Geisha microlot comes to us direct trade from our friends Maximiliano and Esperanza at Finca el Pedregal. They call it "Cafe Garmas", a combination of their family names, since this incredibly tasty coffee is a product of their hard work and dedication to quality. It's vibrantly bright, well structured and clean with a dazzling bouquet of florals! We noted key lime, jasmine, orange blossom and an undertone of vanilla cake.
High in the northern reaches of the Andes Mountains lies the Cajamarca region of Peru. At the far north of this region right on the border with Ecuador, you’ll find the city of San Ignacio. Nearby is the small farm Finca de Pedregal owned by our friends Maximiliano Garcia and Esperanza Armijos. You hear the phrase “labor of love” thrown around a lot, but Max and Esperanza truly pour their heart and soul into their beautiful coffee! That’s why they call their coffee “Café Garmas”, a portmanteau of their family names. They believe it’s a reflection of their combined hard work and dedication to quality. Max spent many years as an agrotechnician for Cenfrocafe, a successful producer’s coop in San Ignacio. This experience gave him a leg up when he and Esperanza decided to start their own family farm.
This is the first Geisha I’ve tried from Peru, so I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect. Sure it’s a Geisha, so I expected it to be bright, floral and clean, but what does the Andean terroir bring to the table? Well it turns out to be a perfect complement! The acidity is delightfully vibrant – like lime zest but without any of the sharpness or sour pucker. It’s also got a veritable bouquet of florals! I was able to pick out jasmine and orange blossom in my samples, but it felt like walking into a florist’s shop. I also picked up on a mellow, warm sweetness. It’s like a bass note in this chorus, which came through for me as vanilla cake. Overall, the cup is crystal clean and harmonious, an excellent representation of the Geisha variety. As someone who usually gravitates towards loud, intense naturals, I tend to be underwhelmed by fully washed Geishas. But I was shocked at how much I enjoyed this coffee! Truly a well-structured and flavorful cup and a testament to the quality of Café Garmas.
Reminder! This coffee is raw, you must roast it before brewing
Arrival Date: June 7th, 2024; Harvest year: 2023-24
Acidity & Brightness: Vibrantly bright and gently sweet
Balance & Finish: Harmonious balance with a quick, clean finish
Body & Texture: Rich body and creamy texture
Flavors: Key lime, jasmine, orange blossom & vanilla cake
Grade: Grade 1 - SHG EP, Grown at 1,760 – 1,800 masl
Processing: Fully washed, sun dried
Grower: Maximiliano Garcia | Finca Pedregal
Region: San Ignacio, Cajamarca, Peru
Varieties: Gesha
Recommended Roast Range: City + to Full City + (Light-medium to medium-dark)
Start at City + (light-medium) or just about 1 minute into rolling first crack. From there, go a bit darker if desired, but find it best not to go any darker than Full City (Full Medium or after 1st crack ends but before second crack begins). Lighter roasts (less than a minute into development) will feature effervescent brightness and intense florality but with a little less body and more of a silky texture. Medium roasts will present a well-rounded cup with a bit more sweetness, though you risk losing the florality that this variety is so well known for.
De La Finca Coffee - "Max and his wife Esmeralda like their coffees to be referred to as Café Garmas because Max believes in the quality of their work together. Max was an agrotechnician for Cenfrocafe for many years. This experience helped him avoid the pitfalls of coffee cultivation before starting his own farm. At their farm, Finca de Pedregal, they also cultivate bananas, yuca and sugar cane along with a garden of vegetables and herbs. So when you visit, they make a point to treat you with fresh food! They have two children: Ulises and Maruveny.
