Tier 1: Tanzania Gesha

TIER 1

This Tanzania gesha coffee is one of our Tier 1 coffee offerings.  Tier 1 coffees are our highest price point coffees. The increased price reflects our much higher purchase price of the green coffee, which correlates to higher consumer demand, lower supply, and increased or unique sensory attributes. In other words, the price of these coffees reflects their rarity, exceptional cup quality, and increased flavor complexity. For those interested in SCA (Specialty Coffee Association) cupping scores, these coffees will consistently be in the higher-80’s to lower 90’s, which are classified as “excellent” to “outstanding.” For perspective, less than 10% of all coffee harvested worldwide is specialty-grade coffee with a minimum SCA cupping score (sensory analysis) of 80/100. Less than 1% of specialty-grade coffees are estimated to be Tier 1 coffees.

Gesha coffees are some of the most sought after coffees in the world for their unique flavor profiles and as such are also some of the most expensive.  In the 2025 Best of Panama auction, a lot of washed gesha coffee from Hacienda La Esmeralda sold for a record-breaking $30,204 per kilogram or 2.2 pounds.  Compared to other coffee varietals, gesha coffee varietals are lower yielding, require more labor to maintain, are more susceptible to disease, and require ideal growing conditions.  All of these things contribute to the rarity or scarcity of gesha coffees.

LIMITED QUANTITY

We only purchased twenty-two pounds of this coffee.

FLAVOR PROFILE (What we taste)

Due to the delicate flavor profile of washed gesha coffees, we are only offering this coffee as a light roast.  We find this coffee to be very sweet with notes of mild peach, apricot, florals, caramel, and a lighter body.  Using a scale of 0-10, the cup profile has a higher level of sweetness (8), moderate acidity (5), a lighter body (3), and no bitterness.  This coffee is a great representation of what washed gesha coffees are known for.

RECOMMENDED BREWING METHODS

Our focus with this coffees has been exclusively as filter/drip coffee but the flavor profile of this coffee would lend itself to doing well as espresso.  As a lighter roasted coffee, we recommend starting with a water temperature between 205-208F depending on brew method as lighter roasts are more prone to under extraction.  If the coffee tastes sour, 1) grind finer, 2) gradually increase the water temperature, and/or decrease the amount of ground coffee or water used to increase the extraction.  If the coffee tastes bitter and over extracted, 1) coarsen up the grind size, 2) gradually decrease the water temperature, and/or 3) increase the amount of ground coffee or decrease the amount of water used. For filter/drip and immersion, we recommend starting with a brewing ratio of 1:15 (e.g., 20 grams of coffee to 300 grams of water), but this again is an area you will adjust for taste preferences.  If you decide to brew it as espresso, we would recommend using a higher water temperature (e.g., 203-205F) if your machine allows and starting with a 1:3 ratio (e.g., 18 grams of coffee to 54 grams of coffee in the cup), but experimenting with longer and shorter ratios until you find the balance of flavors you prefer.  

ABOUT THIS COFFEE

Producers:  Neel and Kavita Vohora | Finagro Estate

Country: Tanzania

Continent: Africa

Region: Karatu District, Arusha Region

Varietals: Gesha

Process: Prefermentation of cherries; Depulped; Fermentation between 36 and 54 hour; and washed in fresh spring water

Altitude/elevation: 1650 to 1800 MASL

Green Coffee Certifications: None

Harvest Period: July to December 2024

Transparency

Want to learn more about this coffee and the producers who make it possible?  Want to learn more about the prices we paid for this coffee?  We paid $21.31 per pound for the green coffee from Royal Coffee Importers.  By way of comparison, many of our Tier 3 coffees were purchased at approximately $6 a pound.  Our goal is to create more transparency about our purchasing decisions so that you can make as informed a buying decision as possible.

Click on the following link to learn more about the two siblings who made this coffee possible: https://royalcoffee.com/green-coffee-report-tanzanias-edelweiss-and-gaia-finagro-farms/