Guatemala - Fredy Orantes' Buena Vista Gesha

Brew Guide:

Best Brewed with: Filter

Lightest Roaster Influence: A bit more on the process-forward side of the trad natty spectrum, we're being careful with the heat application to prevent any tipping defect. A very light roast - we're trying to avoid the heaviest process notes and preserve peak aromatic complexity

Best Rested: 4+ weeks

Filter: 64g/L, 92°C when fresh; 89°C when rested

Espresso: 18g/50g/18-22s

We're tasting: Big purple fruit notes on the aromatics - we're getting turkish delight, grape and cherry gummy sweets. In the cup it's definitely process forward - we're finding strawberry daiquiri, cocoa butter, mixed tropical juice, with a syrupy body. As it cools becoming a little bit more open - we're finding super sweet notes of mixed jelly beans, watermelon, and a slightly herbal florality akin to mosiac hops.

Traceability

The Story

Fredy Orantes and his 7-hectare Finca Buena Vista have consistently been a jewel in the Primavera offer for Guatemala, delivering exceptional quality year after year across multiple varieties and processing methods. Located at 1900 MASL in the Fraijanes region, the farm sits at relatively high elevation for the area, which proves ideal for cultivating the more demanding varieties that Orantes specialises in.

Fraijanes presents a different microclimate compared to Guatemala's other renowned regions - it's notably warmer than the cooler highlands of Huehuetenango, with volcanic soils deposited by nearby Volcán Pacaya providing mineral-rich growing conditions. Whilst the region can be more prone to drought conditions, this characteristic actually creates perfect circumstances for processing naturals and honey process lots, where extended drying periods and abundant sunshine become advantages rather than obstacles.

Orantes has capitalised on these conditions by focusing on rare cultivars alongside traditional varieties. His plantings include Gesha and Pacamara - both varieties that thrive at altitude and reward careful cultivation - grown alongside Yellow Catuaí. The quality achieved across all three varieties demonstrates both the farm's potential and Orantes' technical expertise in variety-specific cultivation techniques.

The operation maintains a particular focus on biodiversity and environmental sustainability, employing shade-growing systems and prioritising soil health through organic composting programmes. This unfenced approach allows natural wildlife corridors to remain intact whilst supporting ecosystem balance across the property. Such practices contribute not only to environmental stewardship but also to the complex flavour development that characterises exceptional specialty coffee - more and more we see producers start to talk about the importance of soil health in the future of Speciality coffee, something that Primavera is focusing on with their bio-char project.

Having tried Fredy's coffees over many years (both as green samples and from other roasters), the consistency of quality has been remarkable - these have been consistent bangers year on year. Guatemalan grown Gesha can often struggle with the hot & dry climate, but the shade production and higher altitude of Fredy's farm - as well as his focus on soil health and biodiversity has left a remarkably good expression of the variety.