Colombia — Brayan Smith Gesha (Washed)

Tastes Like — 🌸 Orange Blossom • 🍮 Caramel • 🍎 Fuji Apple • 🧈 Silky

DETAILS

• Producer: Brayan Smith

• Farm: Family Farm

• Region: Pitalito, Huila, Colombia

• Varietal: Gesha

• Process: Washed

• Altitude: 1500–1800 MASL

• Size: 10oz / 284g

INTRO

Brayan is a third-generation coffee grower from Huila whose relationship with coffee began long before he ever thought about quality scores or specialty markets. Growing up in Pitalito, he watched his family move through each harvest with care and excitement, an annual rhythm defined by long days, close attention to detail, and a deep respect for the land that sustained them. Those early experiences shaped his understanding of coffee not just as a crop, but as a responsibility passed from one generation to the next.

THE PRODUCER

As a young producer, Brayan made a deliberate decision to preserve that tradition whilst pushing it forward. Rather than relying solely on inherited practices, he began focusing on improving agronomic techniques, refining post-harvest processes, and experimenting with varieties better suited to specialty production. This balance—honouring what came before whilst investing in what's possible—has become the foundation of his work.

Today, Brayan leads a local coffee association in Huila dedicated to producing high-quality, traceable coffees. His role extends beyond his own farm; he actively collaborates with small producers in the surrounding area, sharing tools, knowledge, and practical support to help elevate quality across the community. Through this collective approach, Brayan has helped foster a culture of learning and improvement, strengthening both individual farms and the region as a whole.

His own farm sits between 1500 and 1800 metres above sea level in Pitalito, Huila. The elevation, combined with careful farm management, allows for slow cherry maturation and expressive flavour development. On the farm, Brayan cultivates a diverse range of varieties, including Pink Bourbon, Gesha, Sidra, Castillo, Caturra, and Bourbon, each selected for its potential and role within the broader ecosystem of the farm.

THE PROCESS

The Washed process at Brayan's farm involves:

• 🍒 Cherry Selection — Careful picking at peak ripeness

• 🔧 De-Pulping — Mechanical removal of skin and mucilage

• 💧 Fermentation — Controlled wet fermentation

• 🚿 Washing — Thorough washing in clean water

• ☀️ Raised-Bed Drying — Careful drying on raised beds

This meticulous processing creates expressive Gesha with exceptional clarity.

THE CUP

Expressive and refined with a silky texture. Orange blossom, caramel, and Fuji apple with exceptional clarity and balance. A third-generation producer honouring tradition whilst investing in what's possible—stewardship of the land, the people who depend on it, and a family legacy he's committed to protecting whilst helping it evolve for the next generation.

Flavour Notes

• 🌸 Orange Blossom

• 🍮 Caramel

• 🍎 Fuji Apple

• 🧈 Silky

What is the roast recency?

Onyx recommend brewing with beans that are at least two weeks off roast. All beans are roasted to peak flavour at around 8-12 weeks. We have the option to either purchase standard beans (at least 2 weeks but no longer than 6 weeks off roast), or rested beans (at least 7 weeks off roast, no longer than 12). For peak flavour, if you are looking to use immediately, we recommend purchasing the rested beans. If you are adding to your rotation of beans, we recommend purchasing the standard and allowing the beans to naturally rest and mature whilst you rotate through other beans.