Size: 12oz Roast: Light
Tasting Notes
A refined expression of the celebrated Geisha variety from Finca La Bastilla, this washed-processed micro-lot showcases signature elegance. Grown at high altitude on volcanic soils in Nicaragua's Jinotega department, it develops a medium body with restrained acidity and sophisticated notes of cherry, stone fruit, plum, caramel, tea rose, and melon. The washed process reveals clean, bright terroir character. Meticulous cultivation and careful processing—from selective harvesting through fermentation and European Preparation sorting—deliver a specialty-grade coffee for those seeking complexity and refinement.
Origin Notes:
La Bastilla Geisha Washed Process
This washed-processed Geisha micro-lot originates from Finca La Bastilla, a high-altitude estate in Nicaragua's Jinotega department. Ripe cherries are carefully selected, floated, and depulped before fermentation to remove mucilage. The result is a pristine cup that expresses the Geisha variety's true character: floral and honeysuckle aromatics paired with bright fresh fruit complexity.
Washed (Wet) Coffee Processing
The washed process begins with floating and sorting cherries to select only ripe fruit. Depulping machines remove the bean from its skin, then fermentation tanks strip away the remaining mucilage. The beans are dried to optimal moisture. This method has become the standard in specialty coffee because it allows terroir—the region's soil, climate, and altitude—to express itself clearly in the cup, creating a clean, transparent flavor profile that showcases the coffee's origin character.
La Bastilla Coffee Estates
Nestled in Jinotega's northeast highlands, La Bastilla Coffee Estates operates two farms—Finca La Bastilla and Finca Santa Luz—on deep volcanic soils surrounded by the Cerro Datanli El Diablo natural reserve. Rainforest Alliance certified since 2003, the estate strategically divides its land into micro-farms aligned with distinct microclimates, allowing each coffee to reach its full potential. Lots are further differentiated by variety and altitude. La Bastilla's on-site micro-mill provides complete control over wet and dry milling, enabling the production of over 150 distinct micro-lots annually, with custom offerings available upon request.
Geisha (Gesha) Coffee Variety
Geisha—originally named Gesha for the Ethiopian town of its origin—is a rare and highly coveted cultivar prized for its distinctive flavor profile. The variety delivers bright citrus, honeysuckle sweetness, and delicate floral and tea-like notes. Yet Geisha demands exceptional care: the trees produce modest yields and are vulnerable to leaf rust. This combination of extraordinary cup quality and temperamental, low-yielding plants elevates Geisha to specialty-coffee status, commanding premium value among discerning coffee enthusiasts.
Coffee Bean Quality
Strictly High Grown (SHG) coffees are cultivated at elevations exceeding 1,200 meters, where slower cherry maturation allows beans to absorb greater nutrient density and develop enhanced sweetness and complexity. This extended ripening cycle results in denser, higher-quality green beans and typically extends the harvest window into later seasons. This lot underwent rigorous European Preparation (EP) sorting during dry milling, meeting exacting standards: minimum screen size of 15 with no more than eight defects per 300 grams.
