Bean & Bean Coffee Roasters Colombia Huila Gesha Washed

Full review

Jasmine arrives before the first sip. It is on the aroma, carries into the early palate, and holds through the first half of the cup. The Gori Gesha varietal produces aromatic compounds at concentrations that standard Colombian arabica does not approach, and the washed process keeps the cup dialed to what that varietal and the Huila terroir provide on their own. There is no fermentation character layered over the floral register. The result is a 5/5 acidity that reads citric and structural, 4/5 sweetness landing in honey and ripe strawberry, and a 2/5 body that is tea-weight, light and quick in the mouth.

Huila sits in the southern Colombian highlands, at elevations that slow cherry maturation and concentrate both sugars and organic acids. The Gori Gesha strain is the critical variable. Where most Colombian arabica produces a reliable, fruit-forward cup, Gesha generates the aromatic compounds responsible for jasmine and white florals at levels that make it categorically different from a standard washed origin lot. The washed process removes the fruit before drying, which means varietal and terroir character carry the cup without fermentation weight. Bean & Bean lists "sour aromatics" alongside the jasmine and honey notes, and the description is accurate. At 200 to 202 degrees Fahrenheit, this fermented-floral note integrates and reads as aromatic depth. At lower temperatures it becomes its own presence: sharp, slightly distracting, pulling against the jasmine.

Pour over is the obvious starting point. In a V60 or Chemex, the flavor sequence is clear: jasmine opens the drawdown, honey sweetness follows through the middle, and the finish is dry and short. Nothing in the bitterness (2/5) extends the cup past where the flavor stops contributing. AeroPress at a short steep time and medium grind delivers a slightly denser expression; the acidity holds but the jasmine reads more quietly, shifting the character toward the honey-strawberry side of the profile. Drip machines can work if they reach the correct brewing temperature, but many mid-range household machines run cooler than what this roast requires. Pour over keeps the critical variable in your hands.

On flavor profile, the Lilo Coffee Roasters Colombia Finca Villa Maria Lemon Candy Natural occupies the same Colombian bright-and-floral tier, but the processing decisions diverge. The natural process on the Lilo adds stone-fruit body and confectionery sweetness that the washed process here does not carry. This washed Gesha runs leaner, with strawberry supporting the jasmine lead rather than competing with it on equal terms. If you want sweetness with fruit weight and body, the natural-process direction delivers it. This washed lot is sharply focused on the jasmine-acidity register.

On performance, the contrast with Blue Bottle Three Africas makes the stakes plain. Three Africas is a multi-origin blend designed for reliable, consistent results across variable equipment and brewing habits. This washed Gesha is not built for that. The jasmine-acidity signature is at its best within a specific temperature and grind range. Below 200 degrees Fahrenheit, the jasmine retreats and the 5/5 acidity takes on an angular edge. Drinkers who dial in each pour over session will find the ceiling is high. A brew practice built on speed and consistency over variable mornings will find the floor notably lower than the price implies.

At $28 for 12 oz ($2.33 per oz), the Gesha premium is already priced in. The Gori Gesha varietal is more expensive to source and process well than standard arabica lots, and when the brewing is on, the cup character backs that cost up. For a pour over drinker whose practice includes attention to temperature and grind, this is a legitimate specialty experience at a reasonable price for the varietal. For a drinker who wants a reliable, forgiving bag that holds across variable conditions and works with milk, $2.33 per oz buys considerably more utility from a full-body medium Colombian lot at a fraction of the cost.

The price history has one recorded check at $28.00. No variance above or below. There is no tracked floor to wait for and no historical pattern to time a purchase against.

Keep pulling the thread: Light roast guide, Colombia, Huila origin guide, and more from Bean & Bean Coffee Roasters.

The 30-day history contains one data point at $28.00. Current price equals the 30-day average, the 30-day high, and the 30-day low: there is no tracked volatility and no discount floor to wait for. If the cup profile fits your practice, buy at the current price. The price-per-ounce at $2.33 is the Gesha premium; the current data does not suggest a sale is coming.