Elkin Guzman El Mirador Geisha FW 

Elkin Guzman cultivates coffee on 31 hectares at Finca El Mirador in Palestina, Huila. Huila’s high altitudes and fertile soils provide excellent growing conditions for cultivating specialty coffee. In order to further differentiate his coffees, Elkin has been experimenting with innovative processing methods, such as the Hydro Honey used in this lot.  

Elkin has operated the farm for over 20 years with a focus on data-driven innovation and meticulous processing protocols that ensure consistency across every harvest.

El Mirador's soils are a nutrient-rich combination of sandy loam and clay loam with a good reserve of humus and organic matter, providing excellent nutrition for the coffee trees. Coffee is grown under a semi-shade system that supports temperature regulation and optimizes photosynthesis. Elkin's approach to cultivation is inseparable from his approach to processing: every step is recorded, replicated and refined, contributing to consistent results across lots and seasons.

Beyond traditional varieties like Caturra, Castillo and Colombia, Elkin cultivates an impressive range of exotic varietals including Geisha, Catiope, Tabi, Orange Bourbon, Wush-Wush, Ombligon, Sidra and Striped Bourbon, positioning El Mirador as one of Huila's most forward-thinking farms. 

Only cherry of perfect ripeness is used for this lot, with an average Brix degree of 20 to 24. Elkin provides periodic training for workers to ensure rigorous cherry selection at picking.

Once picked, cherry is hand sorted and floated to remove underripes before pulping. The pulped coffee is then placed in a cooling room to undergo cold fermentation, a process Elkin began developing in 2015 after two years of study to find the right balance between Brix measurement, fermentation time and temperature. This controlled cold environment extends the fermentation and enhances the complexity and diversity of the cup profile.

After fermentation, the coffee is fully washed with clean water and laid to sundry, with workers raking regularly to ensure even drying. 

Geisha (also known as Gesha) is known for its exceptional cup quality, especially when grown at high altitudes. The variety comes from Ethiopian landrace coffees and was collected from Ethiopian coffee forests in the 1930s. The name supposedly derives from Ethiopia’s Gori Gesha forest.

There is some confusion with several genetically distinct varieties that have all been called Geisha, but the most famous variety is the Panama one. The variety was brought to Lyamungu research station in Tanzania and from there to Centro Agronómico Tropical de Investigación y Enseñanza (CATIE) in Central America in 1953. At CATIE, the variety was logged as T2722. CATIE distributed T2722 across Panama in the 1960s for its Coffee Leaf Rust (CLR) resistance, but its brittle branches meant it was not widely planted.

Panama Geisha reached its modern fame in 2005 when a Geisha lot won the “Best of Panama” competition and broke contemporary records at over $20/pound. DNA analysis has demonstrated that the Panama Geisha descended from T2722 is distinct and uniform. Today, Geisha is known for its delicate florals, jasmine and stone fruit.

Founded by experienced agricultural trader Vicente Mejía, Clearpath Coffee works with producers in Colombia and exports high quality, sustainable single-origin coffees from smallholders, cooperatives and estates. Clearpath partners with producers to support ethical, sustainable growth through fair prices, direct communication with buyers and building long term relationships with sustainability-minded buyers.