Marisela Sánchez - Colombia

Passionfruit, Raspberry, Strawberry Sherbet, Fresh Figs, Red Grape

Producer: Marisela Sánchez
Country: Colombia
Region: El Portal, Palestina, Huila
Variety: Gesha
Process: Anoxic Natural

This coffee was imported by LaReb (La Real Expedición Botánica), a radical producer-owned export co-operative/movement. LaReb's stated goal is ,"to develop de-colonised supply chains and operate outside the typical multinational pathways of coffee". Herbert and his team leverage their own experience alongside the vast pool of collective knowledge across the coffee chain (areas such as financing, quality, export and import are thoroughly covered in the LaReb membership) to enable members are able to define their own terms of engagement. As La Reb warehouse coffees in Belfast (at The Roastworks) we've been fortunate enough to taste their coffees alongside them whilst learning more about their mission and values.

Marisela Sánchez has set the standard on the family estate for a long time, and this is why their coffees have long been valued within the specialty coffee world. 

The Sánchez family have a small “estate” in El Portal, Palestina; land was granted to Marisela’s parents by the Colombian government in the 1950s, and they have been growing coffee in this area ever since. Located in Huila, this region is world renowned for the excellent coffee that it produces. 

With the passing of the land to the second generation - the family have split the estate into smaller plots, each owned and managed by Marisela’s siblings and wider family, with the main processing and drying station situated at Marisela’s house. 

As Marisela is approaches retirement age she has focused her efforts, instead deciding to focus on her work within her community and to start producing coffees of lower yield but of higher value and rarity. This gesha lot is a great example of what this combination of tighter focus, alongside years of experience, can yield.

In the cup this is a big flavour experience, building on the fruity and floral base of the gesha varietal with the sweetness and mouthfeel of natural processing. The fruits are deeper and sweeter, with lots of tropical notes like passionfruit and mango, but the natural processing has really amped up the red fruits like raspberry and strawberry. The sweetness is sherbet-like, particularly when brewed as an espresso, whilst filter brews have more of the fresh fig and crips red grape.

This is a real experience coffee, and we're so happy to be able to roast and share it this year, but we have very limited supply so don't hesitate to grab a bag (or two)! 

Grind: If you need your coffee ground, select on the dropdown. Let us know in the "Special Instructions" if there is any other specific brew method you need the coffee ground for.