Giorgio & Gina Bressani - San Jerónimo Miramar

Tasting Notes: Bergamot, Finger Lime, Sencha, Apricot, Jasmine

Description: This coffee was sourced and sold by B Sides, a project of Christopher Feran. B Sides buys unique, rare, or experimental lots from producers at local cost, imports them, grades them, and then sells them at a fair cost in the US market. The profits are then split 50/50 with the producer. Since the Producer is paid a baseline price, the risk of trying new experiments is lower for them, and the profit sharing seems like a fair way to reward the importer for high quality and interesting lots.

This coffee is special separation of Gesha from Finca San Jeronimo Miramar located on Volcan Atitlan in Guatemala. FSJM is a family-run farm of four generations that is known for it’s unique and meticulous farming practices as well as it’s genetic library and management of coffee varieties. Their approach to genetic management has allowed many varieties to adapt to the local climate and perform better both in production and quality than would otherwise be expected.

This Gesha lot is processed using a classic washed method: sorted, floated, pulped, sorted/separated by density, fermented in water for 24 hours, washed, and then dried spread out on patios. This tiny 30 kg lot (of which we have 5 kg of) represents some of the best FJSM has to offer. Blindfolded we might have guessed it was Panama Gesha (a pretty good one too!). However we’d prefer to support sourcing models like that of B Sides that reward the producer more directly rather than some of the opaque pricing and other problematic aspects that sometimes go with buying Panama Gesha and other high-end coffees.

Impressions: In the aroma while hot, you'll immediately find that this is a bright and sparkling coffee. Immediately after brewing we notice floral bergamot and zesty tropical finger lime. As it starts to cool, a refreshing sencha green tea note becomes prominent and sweet apricot and white peach starts to come out, balancing the zesty and tart citrus. In the base of the aroma, sweet and aromatic Jasmine and other sweet white florals are apparent. As it finishes cooling to room temperature, the florals move from subtle to deep and rich. The palate follows a similar trajectory as the aroma but with more acid and "oomph" than you'd expect from a delicate coffee. The lime really comes through on the palate and makes it a really refreshing, clean, and bright experience.