The flavor profile of this Christmas-themed Colombian BLUE CHRISTMAS from the Oh My Bean roastery features strawberries and cream. The fruity notes are complemented by a hint of orange, and the sweetness is reminiscent of maple syrup. The acidity is very pronounced, the sweetness is high, and the body is medium; the coffee comes across as fresh and juicy. However, there are so many other flavor layers in the bean that it’s worth experimenting with. Let your cup cool and try different brewing methods. The coffee can develop pronounced fruity notes or floral notes—both suit it perfectly.
This Geisha comes from the Monteverde farm in the Herrera region in southwestern Tolima; the Gutiérrez Falla family has been growing coffee here for five generations. Gildardo’s grandson originally received the farm from his father as a wedding gift, and he and his wife, Miralba, have been tending to it since 1988. A turning point came in 2010, when their three children—all trained coffee tasters—convinced their parents to grow rare varieties, led by this Geisha. Today, the eldest, Johan, oversees the harvest and processing; his brother, Newerley, is a certified Q Grader who manages the business; and the youngest, Katerinne, works as both an agronomist and a Q Grader. Plotcoffee is their distribution partner.
Processing is carried out using the natural and anaerobic methods. Fermentation begins with 24 hours of exposure to air. The cherries are kept in bags at a controlled temperature, and when the temperature rises above 35 °C, they are placed in a cold water bath. They are then transferred to sealed plastic containers with a valve that allows gases to escape but prevents air from entering. There, they remain submerged for 48 hours along with microorganisms and yeasts that the family collects from the upper, untouched part of the farm, mainly from oak trees. Finally, the cherries dry in the sun for 20 days on raised beds or patios under a shade structure. The “blue” in the name comes from this processing step: during fermentation, the cherries take on a faint blue tint, which tells the farmers that everything went according to plan.
- Producer: the Gutiérrez Falla family
- Farm: Monteverde
- Elevation: 1,700 m above sea level
- Cupping score: 89 SCA