Colombia — Robinson & Luis Enrique Cuellar Gesha

Tastes Like — 🫐 Elegant Berries• 🌸 Floral• 🍯 Wildflower Honey

DETAILS

• Producers: Luis Enrique Cuellar & Robinson Cuellar
• Farm: Finca La Pradera
• Region: Santa María, Huila, Colombia
• Varietal: Gesha
• Process: Washed
• Altitude: 2050 masl
• Size: 250g

INTRO — Colombian Gesha Rivalling Panama's Finest

Finding Colombian Gesha that genuinely rivals the famed T2722 Panama Gesha profile is rare. Most Colombian Geshas, whilst excellent, display distinct characteristics that set them apart from their Panamanian counterparts. This lot from Robinson and Luis Enrique Cuellar is the exception—a brilliant cup that pops with massive florality, elegant berries, and complexity reminiscent of the great Panama Geshas.

What makes this even more impressive is the brothers' complementary approach to coffee production. Luis Enrique, an agronomist by trade, manages the plots and commercialisation, whilst Robinson handles processing and drying. This division of labour allows each brother to focus on what he does best, resulting in exceptional quality from farm to final product.

THE PRODUCER — The Cuellar Brothers & Finca La Pradera

Finca La Pradera spans six hectares in Santa María, Huila, with 3.5 hectares dedicated to coffee production. At 2,050 metres above sea level, the farm's approximately 13,000 coffee trees grow in ideal conditions for cultivating exceptional Gesha alongside other varieties including Caturra, Pacamara, Pink Bourbon, and Chiroso.

The brothers' partnership is beautifully synergistic. Luis Enrique's agronomic training informs every decision about cultivation—from soil management to varietal selection to harvesting protocols. Meanwhile, Robinson's expertise in processing and drying ensures that the exceptional cherries Luis Enrique produces are handled with the precision they deserve.

Their ambitions extend beyond simply producing great coffee. They aim to plant exotic landrace varieties and advance bio-dynamic farming practices, continuously elevating their professional enterprise. This forward-thinking approach, combined with their complementary skills, positions La Pradera as one of Colombia's most exciting specialty coffee farms.

The brothers also demonstrate their commitment to quality through their picking practices. In earlier years, when production was smaller, harvesting was a family affair. Now, with mature trees producing significant volume, they hire pickers but pay wages over 40% above the regional average. This premium ensures pickers select only the ripest cherries—a crucial factor in producing world-class coffee.

THE PROCESS — Extended Fermentation with Controlled Drying

Robinson's processing protocol for this Gesha lot involves extended fermentation times and careful drying—techniques that amplify the variety's inherent complexity whilst maintaining pristine clarity:

• 🍒 Selective Harvesting — Only the ripest cherries picked by well-compensated pickers
• ⏱️ 24-Hour Cherry Fermentation — Whole cherries rest for 24 hours upon arrival
• 🌊 Flotation — Cherries are floated to remove under-ripes and over-ripes
• ⚙️ Depulping — Careful depulping to expose the parchment
• 🔬 48–52 Hour Fermentation — Extended dry fermentation develops complexity
• 💧 Washing with Mucilage Retention — Coffee is washed whilst leaving some mucilage for added body
• 🏠 Greenhouse Drying — Traditional greenhouse structure for 18–25 days depending on weather

The extended 48-to-52-hour fermentation after depulping is what sets this lot apart. This lengthy fermentation develops the complex fruit and floral characteristics that make this Gesha exceptional, whilst Robinson's careful monitoring prevents any off-flavours from developing. Leaving a bit of mucilage during washing adds body and sweetness, whilst the extended greenhouse drying ensures gradual, controlled moisture removal.

THE CUP — Panama-Quality Gesha from Colombia

This is a top-lot Colombian Gesha that genuinely rivals Panama's finest. The cup is saturated with berry sweetness, massive florality, and a splendidly long finish. It brews brilliantly whether filtered or non-filtered, showcasing the versatility that comes from exceptional quality.

Flavour Notes

• 🫐 Elegant Berries — elegant, complex berry notes with refined sweetness
• 🌸 Floral— pronounced floral aromatics including bergamot and orange blossom
• 🍯 Wildflower Honey — long, sweet finish with honeyed complexity

The cup opens with massive florality—lavender, bergamot, orange blossom—immediately signalling that this is exceptional Gesha. The berry notes are elegant rather than jammy, a great balance of sweet and tart, whilst the finish extends beautifully with wildflower honey sweetness that lingers seemingly forever.

This is the closest Colombian Gesha to the T2722 Panama profile that Flower Child has encountered—a testament to the Cuellar brothers' dedication, skill, and complementary expertise. It's proof that with the right genetics, terroir, and care, Colombian Gesha can stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the world's finest.