Costa Rica Tarrazu Don Cayito Geisha Honey - COE No.3 Auction lot
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Farm Don Cayito has ranked in the top 3 at the Cup of Excellence (COE) for 9 consecutive years.
Coffee Flavor
The flavors of coffee are derived from the breakdown of various nutrients in the green coffee beans during roasting. Heat causes these compounds to degrade into a variety of aromatic molecular structures, resulting in a wide spectrum of flavors. High-quality coffee beans naturally possess a rich aroma that evolves at different temperatures—high, medium, and low—offering a delightful and nuanced experience worth savoring.
Costa Rica Tarrazu Don Cayito Geisha Honey - COE No.3 Auction lot
Rose, lychee, citrus, apple, grape, blackberry acidity, sweet peach
唐卡伊托莊園Farm Don Cayito is managed by Luis Ricardo Calderón Madrigal, having been purchased 10 years ago by Mr. Ricardo. The estate cultivates 15% Typica Mejorado, 15% Geisha, and the remainder Red Catuai. Covering approximately 6 hectares at an altitude of 1,950 meters, the coffee harvest takes place each February.
The estate applies fertilization four times a year, guided by soil analysis to meet the plants’ growth needs. Each batch of coffee is processed in the estate’s own micro-mill, ensuring full traceability from the moment the coffee enters the mill until it is delivered to the exporter or roastery. The farm also experiments with different varieties, applying management and processing practices tailored to each variety and batch.
The estate’s goal is to carefully maintain the quality of every plot, consistently supplying high-quality coffee to the industry.
Winning the Cup of Excellence (COE) is not achieved overnight; it is the result of years of collective effort. From pickers and family members to mill workers, the entire team works together to consistently deliver coffee with exceptional quality and consistency year after year.
Geisha coffee, once named one of the "World's Top 10 Most Expensive Coffees" by Forbes, is a legendary name in the world of specialty coffee. However, there is significant confusion surrounding the Geisha variety, as several genetically distinct plant types are referred to as Geisha, many of which share a similar geographic origin in Ethiopia. Recent genetic diversity analysis conducted by the World Coffee Research confirms that the T2722 variety cultivated in Panama is both unique and consistent. When well-managed in high-altitude regions, this variety is strongly correlated with exceptional cupping quality and is renowned for its delicate floral aroma, jasmine notes, and peach-like fragrance.
The Geisha variety that has thrived in Panama for over 60 years is the T2722 variety. It was originally collected in the 1930s from the coffee forests of Ethiopia. The seeds were sent to the Lyamungu Research Station in Tanzania and later transported to Central America in 1953, where they were documented at the Centro Agronómico Tropical de Investigación y Enseñanza (CATIE) in Costa Rica under the designation T2722. During the 1960s, it was recognized for its tolerance to coffee leaf rust and was distributed by CATIE across Panama. However, due to its fragile branches, it was not favored by farmers and thus was not widely planted. It wasn’t until 2005, when the Peterson family of Boquete, Panama, entered this coffee into the Best of Panama competition and auction, that the variety gained fame. It received exceptional praise and set a record for green coffee auction prices at the time.
Regarding the name "Geisha," the spellings "Geisha" and "Gesha" are often used interchangeably. This is related to phonetic transliteration, as there is no fixed translation from Ethiopian dialects to English. The variety was originally recorded as "Geisha" in planting records. Over the decades, coffee researchers and cultivation databases maintained this spelling, leading to its widespread promotion and use within the coffee industry. The variety was first collected from a mountain in Ethiopia, the name of which is typically translated into English as either "Gesha" or "Geisha."
In recent years, the cultivation of the Geisha variety has gained popularity worldwide, achieving remarkable success in major coffee competitions. This includes regions in Central and South America such as Guatemala, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Colombia, and Peru, where the variety has often been transplanted from Panama's T2722. Additionally, Taiwan has also begun cultivating Geisha in many high-altitude regions. Typically, the higher the elevation, the more enchanting the coffee’s flavor becomes.
(Coffee Processes)
The term "processing methods" refers to the process of transforming ripe red coffee cherries into dried green beans. Each method has its advantages and disadvantages, influenced by the natural environment and the specific needs of the coffee-producing region. As a result, different regions adopt the processing method most suited to their conditions. This batch uses washed / wet processed processing methods, described below:
【Honey / Pulped Natural / Semi-dry Process】
Also known as: Pulped Natural / Semi-dry Process
The honey process is a method that combines elements of both the natural process and the washed process. This technique was initially developed in Costa Rica. Similar to the washed process, the skin and pulp of the coffee cherries are removed, but the fermentation step is skipped. Instead, the mucilage layer (a sticky, sugary layer around the bean) is left intact and dried under sunlight.
The term "honey" does not refer to the addition of actual honey. Rather, it derives from the sticky texture of the mucilage, which resembles honey. The retention of this layer, rich in sugars and acids, is the key to the honey process. The amount of mucilage left on the beans determines the sweetness and flavor complexity. The flavor profile produced by the honey processing method lies between that of the natural (sun-dried) and washed processes, resulting in a very unique cup of coffee. The taste is cleaner than the natural process, and due to the residual mucilage, it also has a richer syrupy sweetness. The acidity is more pronounced than in washed coffees, but the body is richer and more full-bodied than that of washed coffees.
JUSTIN INTERNATIONAL FOOD ENTERPRISE CO., LTD.
Tel: +886-3-358-6611
1st Floor, No. 30, Lane 120, Daxing Road, Taoyuan District, Taoyuan City
▶This product is covered by a NT$10 million product liability insurance.
▶Food Industry Registration Number: F-165601955-00000-0
▶ Our company’s cupper is certified as a CQI International Coffee Quality Appraiser.
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