Colombia - CGLE - Cerro Azul - Hybrid Honey Geisha

Cerro Azul, one of the premier farms operated by Café Granja La Esperanza, is located in Trujillo, in Colombia’s Cauca region—a region celebrated for its exotic coffee varieties. Known for its dedication to innovation and quality, the Herrera family has transformed Cerro Azul into a hallmark of excellence in specialty coffee production. The farm’s high elevation, fertile volcanic soils, and unique microclimate make it an ideal location for cultivating the world-renowned Geisha variety. The Geisha seeds at Cerro Azul were sourced from Panama, where, in 2007, Don Rigoberto Herrera leased La Carleida farm and produced an award-winning Geisha that secured first place at the 2008 Best of Panama competition. Inspired by this success, Rigoberto introduced Panamanian Geisha seeds to Cerro Azul, where they have flourished at altitudes of up to 1,700 masl. The Geisha coffee from Cerro Azul undergoes a meticulous honey process, designed to highlight its unique attributes. Only cherries with optimal brix values are selected to ensure high sugar content. The cherries are depulped and divided into two batches. The first batch is dried on patios, leveraging natural airflow and sunlight for even drying. The second batch is initially dried in a silo until it reaches 40% moisture content. It is then transferred to the patio to complete the drying process until it achieves the ideal 12% moisture level. This dual-stage drying process enhances the coffee’s flavor complexity, clarity, and sweetness, producing a cup that embodies the exceptional terroir and precision behind its cultivation.