Costa Rica Sumava Geisha Red Honey

This is a very fairly priced Geisha coffee presently lovely, delicate florals. The producer refers to the processing as "Rested Red Honey" or reposado as described below.

We have an excellent relationship with a person we consider to be Costa Rica's top exporter of specialty coffee and microlots. The exporter has been at the forefront of facilitating small growers to hone their standards which includes full control over the processing of coffee. Over the past few years the exporter, whose partner is an award winning grower, decided to purchase his own coffee operation - Sumava Farm. Sumava (pronounced shu-ma-va) won first place at the Cup of Excellence 2016 competition, bring a lot of attention to the farm and its quality coffee. Attention to detail and processing really comes through in the cup.

The farm is located in Costa Rica's West Valley Region and in the micro region of Naranjo. There are two plots located on the Sumava Farm, one is called Monte Llano Bonito which is comprised of 9 plots. The other section is 6 plots called Monte Lourdes.The varietals grown on site are Caturra, Pacamara, Geisha, Mokka, and SL28. The farm prides itself on their agronomic practices which minimize use of herbicides and pesticides while focusing on using minerals and mountain micro-organisms (MM's) from natural origins instead.

There are a total of 10 workers on the farm that have access to clean drinking water, electricity, new showers, toilets and social security benefits.

This lot is 100% Geisha, an heirloom varietal from Ethiopia that produces a blue-green elongated coffee bean that is especially aromatic and floral. Price Peterson, who owns Hacienda Esmeralda in Panama, experimented by planting it some years ago along with a broader group of varietals. The result was the rediscovery of a great cultivar with extreme fruitiness and floral scents and flavors, but with balance and finesse not seen in other coffees. Coffee farmers in other countries soon followed suit, and the varietal regularly takes home awards in Cup of Excellence competitions held throughout the world.

Cherries in a "restful" state after harvesting (reposado)

Processing incorporates two aspects of note.  Firstly, what the farm terms Reposado is a "restful" period where freshly harvested fully ripe coffee cherries are kept in baskets in full shade for several days (see photo above).  Acclimating to ambient conditions adds some depth to flavor and added sweetness as some fruit pulp will begin to concentrate on the seeds within.  Secondly, the cherries, after having their outer skin removed (depulped) pass through the micro mill where a fine spray gently removes traces of fruit pulp.  When a significant amount of pulp remains on the fruit in this state is placed on drying tables. The seeds, with its partial fruit still attached, will turn red-ish as it dries and thus is called Red Honey.  With this processing combination, the result is a unique Reposado Red Honey.

• Farm: Sumava 
• Farm Plot: La Casita
• Producer: Francisco A. Mena
• Region: West Valley
• Micro region: Lourdes de Naranjo
• Elevation: 1600 meters
• Varietal: Geisha
• Plant age:  5 years
• Processing: Yellow Red Reposado (Rested)