Perú — Manuel Elera, San José del Alto, Geisha (Natural)

Tastes Like — 🍍 Tropical Fruits • 🍌 Banana • 🌼 Camomile

DETAILS

• Producer: Manuel Elera
• Region: San José del Alto, Jaén, Perú
• Varietal: Geisha
• Process: Natural
• Altitude: 1550–1650 MASL
• Size: 125g

INTRO

Manuel Elera approaches his craft with a quiet confidence and deep technical knowledge that belies his youth. Alongside his brother, he manages a farm nestled in San José del Alto — a region in Jaén province where the climate and altitude conspire to create ideal conditions for high-quality Geisha.

But it is not just nature at work here. Manuel follows a meticulous production process from selective harvest through to innovative post-harvest treatment, including a saline water soak that eliminates fungi and ensures a clean, bright cup. The result is a Geisha of genuine distinction — expressive, aromatic, and traceable to a single dedicated producer.

THE PRODUCER

Manuel Elera is part of an emerging generation of Peruvian specialty coffee producers in the Jaén region, bringing precision and ambition to a country that is rapidly building its reputation in the specialty market. His farm's location in San José del Alto, with its favourable altitude and microclimate, provides the foundation — but it is Manuel's meticulous agronomic and processing protocols that elevate his Geisha into a truly exceptional lot. His focus on elimination of post-harvest defects through the saline soak is an example of the innovative thinking that sets his coffee apart.

THE PROCESS

The Natural process at Manuel Elera's farm involves:

• 🍒 Selective Hand Picking — Only the ripest cherries are harvested between July and September.
• 💧 Double Wash — Cherries undergo a double-wash immediately after picking.
• 🧪 Saline Water Soak — Cherries are soaked for 3–4 hours in 2% saline water to eliminate harmful fungi and ensure cup cleanliness.
• ☀️ Whole-Cherry Drying — Cherries are dried intact, allowing the full expression of the fruit's aromatic compounds to develop in the bean.

This combination of traditional natural drying and modern fungal-control techniques produces a Geisha of remarkable clarity and aromatic intensity.

THE CUP

An aromatic and delicate natural Geisha from the Peruvian highlands. Tropical fruit complexity leads — vibrant and sun-kissed — before giving way to soft banana sweetness. Camomile brings a floral, herbal gentleness to the finish that is quintessentially Geisha in character.

Flavour Notes

• 🍍 Tropical Fruits
• 🍌 Banana
• 🌼 Camomile