Santa Clara - Panama Gesha ( Filter Roasted )

COUNTRY: Guatemala

DEPARTMENT: Sacatepéquez

MUNICIPALITY: Antigua

FARM SIZE: 90 Hectares

ELEVATION: 1,600-1,830m above sea level

VARIETY: Panama Gesha

PROCESSING: Washed

FARM OWNER: Ricardo Zelaya

AWARDS: Cup of Excellence 2001, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022

This Panama Gesha microlot comes from Santa Clara Estate, a farm owned and managed by Ricardo Zelaya. The influential Zelaya family has been growing coffee in Antigua for more than 100 years. Ricardo recognises that his people are his most valuable asset “80% of the cost of coffee is labour—you need to depend on a lot of people. I think that if your people are earning a good salary, if they have good conditions and if they’re happy, then they’ll do a better job, and with more will.”

Every cherry at Santa Clara is selectively hand-picked and sorted before being inspected and approved by the foreman at the wet mill. The farm also hires around fifty ‘special pickers’ who have demonstrated particular dexterity and are selected to hand-harvest some of the farm’s micro-lots using their impressive attention to detail. These employees can receive more than double the minimum daily wage by picking coffee at the farm. According to Ricardo, although they are very demanding about picking practices, the majority of the seasonal workers come back year after year, which is a testament to the fair conditions and pay they receive.

After being picked, the cherries were placed in sealed Ecotact bags and taken to the mill. Once there, oxygen is removed from the bags, and cherries are left to ferment in an anaerobic environment for 14-20 hours(depending on the weather). The cherries were then depulped and the resulting beans were washed to remove any remaining pulp. These were then carefully dried on the patio and then on raised beds, with a greenhouse-style enclosed canopy, which features walls that can be lifted up and down to maximise airflow and control temperature and humidity. This method of drying allows Ricardo more control over the process, enabling him to ensure the coffee is dried slowly and evenly. Once dry, the coffee was rested in parchment until it was ready for export.

RECOMMENDED Suitable for Filter brewing methods and French press.

 **NOTE FOR DELIVERY** An order placing BEFORE 2 PM will arrange on next day delivery. An order AFTER 2 PM will deliver on the next following days.