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What’s The Deal With Geisha Coffee?
Mar
Author: Will Greavner, Head of QC & Sensory and 2025 UK Cup Tasters Champion
Speciality coffee often introduces drinkers to varieties they may never have encountered before. One that regularly sparks curiosity is Geisha coffee.
Geisha is a variety of Arabica coffee prized for its uniquely floral, fruity and complex character. This varietal is native to Ethiopia, the birthplace of coffee, though many different origins now produce this coveted crop.
Gesha or Geisha?
If you’ve come across this coffee before, you’ve likely seen it spelt both ‘Gesha’ and ‘Geisha’. Whilst neither is incorrect, the varietal originates from the Gori Gesha Forest of South Western Ethiopia, where ‘Gesha’ is a transliteration of the native name for the region. The spelling of Geisha with an ‘i’ has been largely adopted by Western society since the late 1930s, after a letter was written by a British Consulate detailing their trip to this area in Ethiopia, in which it was spelt this way.
What Does Geisha Coffee Taste Like?
Geisha coffee is characterised by its big, beautiful floral flavours, setting it apart from many other varieties. It also possesses a wonderful tea-like body and creamy mouthfeel, creating a truly special drinking experience.
In a Geisha coffee, you can expect notes like: orange blossom, jasmine, lavender, apricot, bergamot, mandarin orange and tropical fruits. These floral flavours are more perceivable in Geisha coffee due to its higher linalool content.
Linalool is an aromatic natural compound (terpenol) occurring naturally in flowers like jasmine, lavender and lily-of-the-valley and is also found in many citrus fruits. It’s widely used in fine fragrance and cleaning products to recreate wonderful floral aromas, as few fragrances would be complete without it. When isolated, Linalool smells sweet, floral, citrus and coriander-esque. Interestingly, linalool also has a subtle blueberry aroma, which is likely why many tasters report discovering blueberry notes when tasting this coffee.
Why Is Geisha Coffee So Expensive?
This variety of Arabica coffee is often more expensive than common varietals and cultivars like Bourbon, Typica and Caturra, due to its low yield and globally celebrated flavour. The crops can also take up to three times longer to fruit compared to other Arabica coffee, and are grown at altitudes exceeding 1,500 metres above sea level. Here, the cooler temperature and lower oxygen levels allow the coffee cherries to mature more slowly, resulting in the prolonged development of sugars and complex flavour compounds.
The type of process a Geisha coffee undergoes after the cherries are picked can further increase its value due to the greater risk involved and the increased labour required. For example, a natural coffee is kept in its fruit for the entire drying period. This makes it more susceptible to mould growth and overfermentation. To prevent either from occurring, the coffee must be turned constantly, allowing air to circulate around the cherry so it can dry evenly and thoroughly. This additional labour and the risk of potential loss understandably increase the value of Geisha coffee.
It is also well documented that Geisha coffees score very highly within the Specialty Coffee Association grading system, between 80 and 100 is considered speciality quality. This system evaluates attributes such as aroma, flavour, acidity and balance, assigning a numerical score that reflects the overall quality of the coffee.
Why Every Coffee Lover Should Try It
Geisha coffee is a wonderful showcase of excellent quality and a great example of the diversity within Arabica coffee. For that reason alone, I believe every self-proclaimed coffee-lover should experience it at least once. Not just for enjoyment, but also for education, as it will almost certainly be an enlightening experience. Be sure to study it and compare it directly to other coffees you’ve had before.
For me, drinking speciality coffee (especially expensive ones like Geisha) makes for an occasion to savour. I recommend setting aside some time for it, as any coffee can be made even better when paired with a little self-care and nowhere else you need to be.
