Description
MEET THE PRODUCER | In 1967, Rudolph Peterson originally purchased Hacienda La Esmeralda as a retirement venture. Comprised of three farms, the land was first allocated as pasture for beef cattle, but the Peterson family later transitioned it to pasture for dairy cattle and eventually, coffee. 2004 marked a pivotal turning point for both the Peterson family and the Panamanian coffee industry, when the first Gesha seeds were planted on Finca Jaramillo, one of Esmeralda’s three flagship farms. In their own words, the Petersons acknowledge they are grateful and proud to call Hacienda La Esmeralda the “true origin of the wonders of Panama Gesha.”
This particular lot is comprised of several high-performing Gesha microlots from the family's El Velo farm, and each contribution was personally selected by Daniel and Rachel Peterson at the cupping table.
TRUST THE PROCESS | Known for elevating variety over processing impact, the folks at Hacienda La Esmeralda kept things simple with this lot, carefully monitoring things like fermentation temperature and drying time to ensure this coffee remains a clean and restrained example of a naturally processed Panamanian Gesha.
TAKE A SIP | When hot, this coffee is intensely floral, like bergamot, and swimming in stone fruit notes like peaches and apricots. It's citric and sweet and remarkably tea-like at this temperature, reminding us of black tea that's been sweetened with wildflower honey. A quieter expression of tropical fruits, like mango and lychee, lingers here but will become louder as the cup cools.
As the coffee approaches a pleasantly warm temperature, florality persists while acidity ticks up, reminding us of orange blossom. More stone fruit is present here, with cherries and plums accompanying the aforementioned peach. The body is juicy and the tropical flavors are more apparent at this temperature, accompanied by a chocolatey sweetness that lingers on the finish.
When cool, this coffee is clean and vibrant, filled with so many fruit flavors that we'd be remiss if we didn't compare it to a mixed fruit cup. Peaches and cherries persist alongside elevated tropical notes, and a new note - pear - enters the chat. It remains floral, citric, and sweet throughout, with a long finish that brings us back to that black tea.
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Origin | Jaramillo, Boquete, Panama
Producer | The Peterson Family
Farm | El Velo
Process | Natural
Variety | Gesha
Elevation | 1750 masl
BLACK LABEL ARCHIVE
All of our Black Label releases this year in one location.
So go ahead, pull that coffee from the freezer and get brewing.
