The battle between sweet and sour flavors: a comparison of three types of Gesha coffee

Geisha coffee originates from the Gesha forest in Ethiopia, Africa. Because it is pronounced similarly to the word "geisha" in Japanese, it is sometimes called "geisha coffee". In the past decade, Geisha coffee has been very popular, winning numerous awards and repeatedly setting records in coffee bean auctions. It is also very popular in China. There is a lot of information about the legendary history of Geisha on the Internet. You can search on Baidu by yourself, so I will not repeat it here. In short, it was discovered in the Gesha forest in 1931, introduced to Uganda and Tanzania in 1936, and sailed across the ocean to Costa Rica in Central America in 1953. It was introduced to Panama in 1970. For a long time, this coffee was unknown until 2000, when Mr. Peterson Jr. of Panama's Emerald Manor accidentally discovered the unique charm of Geisha and began to participate in the World Coffee Competition with this variety alone, which caused a sensation. Since then, Geisha has become a hit, and the craze continues to this day. In addition to being widely cultivated in Central and South America, it has also been reintroduced to Ethiopia, where it has flourished and prospered.

Gesha Forest, Ethiopia

Compared with traditional Blue Mountain coffee and Hawaiian coffee, Gesha coffee usually has a rich and complex floral and fruity aroma, with distinct layers, sweet and sour taste, and is indeed unique. Although I have had a special liking for Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee since college, I am not immune to Gesha. I have tried seven or eight kinds of Gesha, and I believe that many friends have a headache about how to choose from the dazzling array of Gesha. For daily brewing, I can accept a price of coffee beans that does not exceed 2 yuan per gram. Here is a simple comparison of the three kinds of fine Gesha coffee beans on hand for your reference.

The three types of Gesha coffee are Ethiopian Gesha Village native competition-grade gold label beans, Panama Emerald Manor green label beans, and M2M Panama "Juliet". Interestingly, the processing methods of the three coffee beans include sun drying, washing and honey processing, which can also reflect the flavor differences of the processing methods.

To be fair, the same equipment was used for hand brewing: a second-generation blue bottle basket-shaped ceramic filter cup, cake filter paper, and a Brewista temperature-controlled hand brewing pot. The hand brewing parameters were as close to the recommended method given by the seller as possible, with slight adjustments.

Ethiopian Gesha Village Native Gold Label (Sun-dried): The most classic so-called Gesha 1931 variety, with a fragrant top note, rich jasmine tea and citrus fruit flavors, and a clear refreshing acidity (somewhat like champagne) at the entrance, followed by a noticeable sweetness. As the temperature drops, the smell gradually weakens, and the sweetness of the back note increases slightly, the floral and fruity aroma fades, and turns to a hint of cream. The overall feeling is like a young and lively girl.

Panama Juliet (honey treatment): pleasant sweetness, almost no noticeable acidity. The top note is not complex, with almost no obvious scent of flower tea, but a strong, mellow fruity flavor (according to the official introduction, it is a carambola flavor, but I personally don't know what a carambola flavor is...). The body is thicker, and the aftertaste is a light milk tea flavor. It is highly sweet throughout, and it is rare that there is no bitterness in the second half. However, it doesn't feel like the traditional Geisha in my impression. It's a double-edged sword.

Panama Emerald Manor Green Label: Compared with the high-priced red label, the green label is also a high-altitude bean, but it is not a bidding bean, and the characteristics of Emerald Manor can still be reflected. The top note is a very elegant and balanced floral and fruity aroma (generally, jasmine, rose, bergamot and other flavors can be identified), and the acidity and sweetness are combined quite evenly and delicately. The most rare thing is that as the temperature drops, the aftertaste is very long, and even after refrigeration, it has a unique flavor. It can be regarded as a Geisha with a balanced and harmonious front, middle and back notes, without obvious defects, and the price is completely acceptable.

Comprehensive comparison:

Acidity: Ethiopia Gold Label > Emerald Manor Green Label > Juliet

Sweetness: Juliet > Emerald Manor Green Label > Ethiopia Gold Label

Complexity: Emerald Manor Green Label > Ethiopia Gold Label > Juliet

Taste: Emerald Manor Green Label > Juliet > Ethiopia Gold Label

Overall, I personally like Emerald Manor Green Label the most. In fact, in terms of the fragrance and sourness of the first part, it may be slightly inferior to Ethiopia Gold Label, but it is elegant and subtle, and has a strong aftertaste. It has a unique flavor when drinking hot or cold. In addition, the price is not outrageous, which allows people to experience the characteristics of Geisha. Ethiopia Gold Label seems younger and more aggressive, but the aftertaste is somewhat different from Green Label, but the price is more affordable, and the cost performance is good. I can feel that Juliet is actually of high quality (but the store claims that the cup test is 90+, while Emerald Green Label is generally only 88-89, and I don’t feel that there is a significant difference. Of course, the styles of the two are very different), but it may not suit my personal taste (it may also be that the basket filter cup used in this comparison has increased its sweetness and mellowness). I personally think that Geisha should still have a certain fruity sourness, and there should be obvious changes and transitions between the smell before and after. Juliet is a bit straightforward, although it is very mellow. Of course, if you use a V-shaped filter cup to further adjust the water temperature and water-powder ratio, I believe you can create a more complex flavor.

The average price per gram of the above three types of coffee beans is between 1.8 and 2 yuan. If you can accept the acidity of coffee and like a younger, more stimulating flavor, you can choose the Ethiopian Gold Label. If you like a richer, more subtle taste, you can choose the Emerald Green Label. If you can't accept the sour taste at all, you can choose honey-processed beans like Juliet.

PS: If you think the prices are high, then Colombia Hope, Huilan and Costa Rica Goddess Manor are all good choices.