“Julio’s Gesha” from Airship Coffee
roaster: Airship Coffee; Bentonville, AR
origin: Finca El Zapote, Guatemala
price: $25.00 (10oz)
tasting: 4/15/18
This is “Gesha” or also called “Geisha” Coffee. What is Gesha? – Generally speaking it’s the world most expensive coffee varietal. Gesha is a type of arabica coffee, that is known to have a sweet citrus flavor profile. Most gesha beans grow at high altitude in Central America. Gesha coffee came to fame in the early 2000s, after a farm from Panama won the a prestigious competition with the beans. Since then high end coffee farmers have been rushing to plant the trees.
Gesha has a sweet more floral flavor, and with common tasting notes of citrus and jasmine. It averages around $40 a pound roasted, with some lots going into the $100s. It’s not commonly found in coffeeshops, due to the price, and since most shops make the majority of their profits on espresso based drinks.
Airship Coffee is based in Bentonville Arkansas, they specialize in high end coffees with a niche, as they focus on finding and roasting sweet coffees. These beans would be consider their premium offering, and they offer a great mix of coffees from around the globe. These beans come from the volcanic soils of Guatemala on the farm of Julio Perez.
As an espresso it’s light and sweet. You get a lot of citrus and papaya flavor. However it wasn’t overwhelming, the espresso pressure normally brings out pronounced flavors, but the flavors were just as vivid as a coffee.
Espresso Rating – 87pts.
As a coffee you’ll notice the berries and papaya the most, but the jasmine flavor is certainly present as well. This might not appeal to all coffee drinkers, but it’s not overwhelming sweet, and carries a lot of traditional coffee characteristics. It’s a medium roast with a nice fruit taste, and a complex but smooth finish.
Coffee Rating – 91pts.
Special thanks to Dakota from Airship for the coffee, visit them at airshipcoffee.com.
About our ratings – For both ratings (espresso & coffee) we’re looking at the flavor profile, along with drink-ability and balance. Reviewing the coffee as the espresso gives us extra insights into the nuanced flavors of the beans.