Costa Rica: ARBAR, Geisha [125g]

*Please note this coffee is part of our Special Reserve range and sold in 125g bags, not 220g*

The ARBAR micromill is owned by Carlos and Maria Arrieta Soto, The mill name "ARBAR" comes from the combined family names - Carlos ARietta and Maria BARboza - ARBAR, clever eh!

Their family home and the milling area of the mill are right in the middle of the Manantial farm, 1 of the 4 small farms that Carlos and Maria run between them. It’s all laid out immaculately, with the drying beds, depulper, and nursery areas all around the edge of the house.

Carlos and Maria are very active members of the local community and have close relationships with their neighbours - which include Cup of Excellence-winning mills like Herbazu, Vista Al Valle and Sumava de Lourdes. The farm operates mostly Organic processes, but they're not Organic certified. They believe in the value of biodiversity on the farms, and plants like fruit trees are positioned among the coffee plants to provide shade and to help the soil. These trees also provide food for the family. They even have a few sheep and other animals, with the farm being as self-sufficient as possible. They have only one full-time employee who isn't a member of the family and they live on the farm in accommodation provided for them.

Before they sold coffee to us, the ARBAR production was all sold to a big cooperative. For that, it makes sense to grow tried-and-trusted coffee varieties like Caturra, Catuai, and Villa Sarchi. These are all proven to produce a good cup, and they're relatively resilient and don’t need to be spaced out too much.

When Carlos and his family started selling to us, it gave them a chance to
try new things; the prices we pay gave them the opportunity to take bigger risks. One of the ways they did this was by trying small plantings of new varietals including Bourbon, Kenya (SL28), and this one – Geisha.

The coffee plants' low-yielding, thin, and spindly branches mean they're vulnerable to the strong winds that are common at higher altitudes. To help protect the plants, they’re surrounded by tall trees and kept in the lee of the hill, where they can grow freely. Furthermore, it's about as pest-friendly as a coffee tree comes (although resistant to leaf rust!), so you just don't get much production. But what you do get is pure deliciousness.

Sweet and floral, there's a wave of honey at the start before the fresh pop of pomegranate comes through and then a little twist of lime zest on the finish.

• Country: Costa Rica
• Region: Western Valley
• Area: Lourdes de Naranjo
  
• Producer: Carlos Arrieta
  
• Micromill: ARBAR
  
• Elevation: 1,600 m.a.s.l.
• Variety: Geisha
• Process: White Honey

Cupping Notes: Floral, honey, pomegranate, lime zest

Cup of Excellence Cupping Scores

• Clean cup: (1–8): 7
• Sweetness: (1–8): 7
• Acidity: (1–8): 6.5
• Mouthfeel: (1–8): 6
• Flavour: (1–8): 6.5
• Aftertaste: (1–8): 6
• Balance: (1–8): 6.5
• Overall: (1–8): 7
• Correction: (+36): +36
• Total: (max. 100): 89

Roasting Information
Medium - slow this as you come to the end of first to get the floral sweetness developed, but finish the roast before you reach second.

This coffee is sold in 125g bags, not our regular 220g bags.

If you place an order before 07:30, it will be roasted and dispatched that day. If you order after 07:30, it will carry over to the following working day for roasting.

We offer free UK mainland delivery on all orders over £50.00. One bag sent with First Class postage will cost £3.50, and one bag sent with Second Class postage will cost £2.00. DPD next working day delivery is available for a flat rate of £6.00 for all orders up to 10kg.

For more information about delivery, please visit our Help Centre.