Peru Gesha El Corazòn is one of the most exciting coffees we've ever tasted from South America. The Gesha variety stems from a Western Ethiopian lineage and delivers one of the most distinctive and elegant coffee experiences on the planet. But it is not only the varietal that makes this release exquisite: it was also lovingly grown and processed by one of the greatest coffee families in Peru: Efrain Cahuallocllo and Maria Arevalo Vasquez.
We first learned of the amazing coffees from Efrain and Maria back in 2015 when we were tasting through table after table of single producer lots at Cenfrocafe. We were blown away by the sweetness and intensity of their coffees. In 2016, we were able to visit Efrain and Maria with our friends at Origin Coffee Lab. It was an honor to meet them and to see their home and processing facilities. They are humble people who process their coffee with intention and care, allowing their coffee varieties and distinctive terroir to ring through their coffees clearly and expressively. We are honored to bring you this unique offering from two of the best coffee producers we've had the pleasure to work with.
In 2017, Efrain and Maria submitted their coffee to Peru’s first ever Cup of Excellence competition. This event showcases some of the top producers in the world, bringing them recognition and elevating their work onto an international stage. Given our initial impressions, we weren't surprised that their coffee won the Presidential award and was the second highest scoring lot of the several hundred submissions judged by an international panel of coffee tasters.
The year he won the Cup of Excellence, Efrain took a portion of the prize money and invested it back into his farm, planting the Gesha variety in the highest zones of his farm, El Cedro. It takes 3 to 4 years for coffee plants to bear fruit, and this is the very first harvest from those special Gesha seedlings.
Look for thrilling notes of lime, green apple and honeysuckle paired with effervescent acidity and a long, crisp finish.
