Plot Colombia Maria Omaira Whole Bean

7oz / 200g Whole Bean
Notes: Wild Strawberry, Orange Blossom, Stone Fruit
Region: Nariño
Producer: Maria Omaira
Varietal: Gesha
Process: Washed
Elevation: 1800 - 1914 m
 
From Plot:
 
"This truly special coffee was produced by Maria Omaira, a farmer in Nariño with over 45 years of experience. It was an amazing experience to bid on and win this coffee with Carnival Coffee Roasters through the “La Mejor Taza” auction. We both fell in love with this lot through the initial rounds of judging for its clean and complex profile with notes of wild strawberry, orange blossom and stone fruits, and we knew we needed to bring it home.
 
Late last year we travelled to Colombia to take part in the “La Mejor Taza” auction in Pasto, Nariño. The region borders Ecuador and is known for its excellent quality so we were really excited to be involved as part of the international jury. Juan and Jayne from Carnival Coffee Roasters were also taking part and we jumped at the chance to purchase this amazing coffee to present as a collaborative release, showcasing the quality of coffees from this region.
 
This coffee comes from the highlands of Nariño, where Maria carefully cultivates around 1,500 Gesha trees which contributed to this lot. Handpicked at peak ripeness, the cherries are first floated to remove defects, ensuring only the highest quality fruit moves into processing. The process starts with a 24 hour pre-fermentation in cherry, allowing natural microbial activity to build early aromatic complexity. The cherries are then de-pulped and transferred to an open tanks where the seeds rest with their mucilage to continue fermentation, enhancing sweetness, structure, and clarity in the cup. After 24 hours the coffee is thoroughly washed to remove any remaining mucilage, ensuring a clean, consistent profile.
 
Drying takes place on raised beds in a structure known as a marquesina and can take anywhere between 15 and 30 days, depending on the climate conditions. This slow, controlled drying promotes even moisture reduction, maintaining quality and shelf life. Finally, the dried parchment coffee is rested before milling, allowing the internal moisture to homogenise. The result is a refined washed Gesha with clarity, sweetness, and a delicate yet structured cup profile.
 
Maria Omaira, from the community of Cusillo Bajo in La Unión, Nariño, was born in 1969 and has dedicated over 45 years to coffee cultivation. Growing up in a coffee producing region, their life has been closely tied to the land, building deep knowledge through hands on experience and continuous learning. They focus on quality driven coffee production. What began as a small scale project evolved into a committed pursuit of excellence, with a clear goal: to participate in and win the Cup of Excellence, showcasing the potential of their coffees on an international stage.
 
Today, on their one hectare farm located at 2,080 meters above sea level, they cultivate Gesha under the shade of fruit trees such as lemon, orange, and native arrayán. This biodiversity contributes to a stable microclimate, and El Cuadradero represents a balance between tradition, sustainability, and a strong ambition to produce outstanding coffees."