Colombia — Gesha³ Las Marias Estate is the latest addition to the Giraldo family farms. In his quest, Jose sought a farm with high elevation, surrounded by native forest, and optimal light conditions to enhance the quality of exotic coffee varietals. He found what he was looking for in Pijao, Quindio, a tiny town nestled in the heart of the Andes Mountains, known for its tranquility and natural beauty. During his search, he came across Las Marias, a farm that had been abandoned for over 20 years, overtaken by overgrown grass and invasive plants. Amidst this wild landscape, however, some rare coffee cherries were still thriving. The farm had about 7,000 Typica trees, around 70 years old, but in a neglected state. Jose and his team worked to restore these trees and began selecting the finest genetics to cultivate at Las Marias. The Geisha variety became their prized focus. They sourced seeds from Panama and meticulously nurtured these delicate trees. For this Rio Dulce Double Washed Lot, only the finest selections of Geisha genetics from Las Marias were harvested. The cherries were picked at their peak ripeness, with a Brix level greater than 22. Once picked, the cherries were transported to the Café 1959 facilities at La Clarita Drying Station. There, the coffee underwent pulping before being placed into closed tanks for an initial 24-hour anaerobic fermentation. Following this, the tank was opened, the coffee was washed, and then it was placed into a second closed tank for another 24-hour fermentation. Finally, the coffee was washed again, rinsed, and spread out on raised drying beds to complete the process. The process concludes with milling, vacuum packaging, and dispatch, ensuring the highest quality for this exceptional coffee.