SEPTEMBER - Percy Pintado | Peru - Washed - Geisha

SEPTEMBER Coffee Roasters is located in Ottawa, Canada

From SEPTEMBER

Our second time working with Percy, his Geishas are some of the cleanest and sweetest washed presentations of Geisha we cup each year. In this cup we get juicy lemon, bergamot and florals like jasmine.

In the cup

We taste a clean and delicate cup of lemon and bergamot with a honey like sweetness, and jasmine florals. The cup was a light body and a sparkling finish.

About The Producer

Percy Huaman Pintado, a third-generation coffee producer, owns Rayos del Sol, a 5-hectare farm in Alto Ihuamaca, San Ignacio. He works closely with family members to share farming techniques and ensure top- quality coffee. Percy takes great care with his Geisha plants, harvesting cherries at peak ripeness and drying them slowly. His dedication led to his Geisha being selected for the 2023 Cup of Excellence auction. The farm’s name, "Rayos del Sol," symbolizes Percy’s hope and resilience, always seeing light on the horizon, even in difficult times.

Processing

Percy is deeply committed to producing exceptional coffee, carefully selecting only the ripest cherries from his farm to ensure the highest quality in every batch. The cherries are harvested at their peak maturity, then depulped, washed, and placed on raised beds to dry slowly for 15 to 20 days, depending on weather conditions. This drying method promotes ideal airflow, allowing the cherries to dry evenly while retaining their delicate flavors. Percy closely monitors the process, ensuring the beans reach the target moisture level of 11% for optimal taste and consistency.

Variety

Geisha was first collected from Ethiopian coffee forests in the 1930s and sent to Tanzania's Lyamungu research station before arriving at CATIE in Central America in 1953, where it was cataloged as T2722. Despite confusion over different "Geisha" plant types, genetic tests confirm that the Panamanian Geisha, descended from T2722, is distinct and renowned for its exceptional cup quality, with floral, jasmine, and peach-like aromas when grown at high altitudes. While originally from Ethiopia and popularized in Panama, the Geisha variety has found a special place in Peruvian coffee and thrives in its unique climate and fertile soils.