If you have spent any time in specialty coffee, you have heard the word Gesha, sometimes spelled Geisha. It is the most hyped coffee variety in the world, and the most expensive. Here is why.
What Gesha actually is
Gesha is a coffee variety, like a grape variety in wine. It traces back to the Gori Gesha forest in Ethiopia, then traveled to Panama, where a farm called Hacienda La Esmeralda put it on the map in 2004 with a cup so floral and tea like that judges thought something was wrong. Nothing was wrong. That was just Gesha.
Why it costs more
Three reasons. Gesha plants give a small harvest, so there is less of it. The plant is fussy and grows best at high elevation, which is harder to farm. And demand is enormous, because once you taste a great Gesha you understand the fuss. Farms win world championships with it.
What it tastes like
At its best, Gesha tastes like jasmine, bergamot, and stone fruit, with a body closer to tea than to a heavy morning cup. It is delicate and aromatic, and it shines as a washed coffee. If processing terms are new, start with coffee processing explained.
Is it worth it?
If you drink coffee on the go and load it with milk, a Gesha is wasted on that cup. If you brew it gently and pay attention, it is one of the most memorable things you can drink. Try it as a pour over, black, and let it cool. Gesha keeps revealing itself as the temperature drops.
We rotate Gesha through the weekly drop when we find a special one. Get on the drop list so you do not miss it.