Gesha

History

Gesha or Geisha is a variety under the Ethiopian Accession branch of Arabica that originates from the Ethiopian district of Gesha. Introduced to Costa Rica the 1950s, Gesha was made famous during the recent years by the Hacienda La Esmeralda Estate in Panama whose Gesha scored highly in various cupping competition.

Genetic Traits

Gesha is a picky varietal as it is characteristically low yielding, susceptible to strong winds, and pest friendly. Although rare due to these characteristics, there has been a relative increase in production due to its specialty coffee fame and price during the recent years. As a result we are seeing a rise in a variety of Gesha from different regions which is no guarantee of quality by itself.

Taste Profile

When done right, a Gesha can be completely out of this world and nothing close to the regular coffee that we are accustomed to. Generally, Gesha displays a tea-like body with good sweetness and sparkling fruity citrus flavor. However, don’t be surprised if your notes are entirely different as Gesha is notorious for eliciting different taste even during the same cupping session!

Want to learn more about Coffee Varieties? Read: Coffee Varieties: How To Taste Coffee By Its Variety