El Refugio Geisha Espresso Roast

LIMITED EDITION EL REFUGIO GEISHA ESPRESSO – COLOMBIA

A Limited Edition Espresso Chosen for the Cup, Not the Name

Taste notes: lemon zest, mango, buttery, black tea

Not every exceptional Geisha espresso comes from a world-famous farm.

When selecting this year's limited edition Geisha, we compared coffees from several highly regarded producers. Rather than choosing purely on reputation, we chose the coffee that impressed us most in the cup — then developed a dedicated espresso roast profile to bring out its fullest character as a shot.

The result is this elegant espresso Geisha from the Agudelo Uribe family at El Refugio Estate in Villamaría, Caldas — grown at 1,750–2,050 metres on volcanic soils in the shadow of the Ruiz Volcano.

Scoring an impressive 87.5 SCA points, this coffee delivers a concentrated, fruit-forward espresso with vibrant citrus, tropical fruit sweetness and remarkable clarity — finishing with elegant black tea notes and a silky, buttery mouthfeel.

This is not a typical espresso. It is bright, fruit-forward and complex — a shot that rewards attention rather than habit.

As with all of our Limited Edition coffees, availability is extremely limited and once sold out it will not be repeated.

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Roast Profile

We have developed a dedicated espresso roast profile specifically to showcase the unique character of this Geisha under pressure.

Roasted slightly fuller than our filter version using our precision electric roaster, the profile builds the body and sweetness needed to carry the Geisha's delicate citrus and fruit character through espresso extraction without turning sharp or thin.

The result is a concentrated, fruit-forward shot with exceptional sweetness, outstanding clarity and a clean, lingering finish.

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The Producers

El Refugio Estate is owned by the Agudelo Uribe family in Villamaría, Caldas, Colombia. The farm has been dedicated to specialty coffee since 2020 — a young operation, but one with meticulous attention to every stage of cultivation and processing.

The farm covers 7.5 hectares planted with Geisha alongside other exotic varietals, all with an average age of around three years. When the family converted the land from livestock to coffee, they planted native shade trees throughout to create agroforestry systems that protect the coffee from harsh winds, fix nitrogen in the soil and provide natural habitat for the region's native bird species.

Only carefully selected ripe cherries are harvested before processing, ensuring exceptional consistency and cup quality.

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The Process

This coffee undergoes a washed process using an Ecomill — a low water-use system that pulps the cherry and ferments the coffee in a single integrated unit, significantly reducing water consumption compared to traditional washed processing.

After selective hand picking, the cherries are depulped in the Ecomill before controlled fermentation, careful washing and drying.

The washed process is particularly well-suited to Geisha espresso — producing the clarity and definition needed for the variety's floral, citrus and tea-like character to come through cleanly even at espresso concentration.

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The Region

Villamaría lies within Colombia's famous Coffee Axis in the department of Caldas, positioned on the same mountain range as the Ruiz Volcano — giving El Refugio access to exceptional volcanic soils at altitude.

High elevations of 1,750–2,050 metres, volcanic soils and a cool mountain climate create ideal growing conditions for producing elegant, complex coffees with vibrant acidity and exceptional sweetness — qualities that translate beautifully into espresso form.

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Coffee Facts

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Taste Profile

• Sweetness: ●●●●●
• Body: ●●●●○
• Acidity: ●●●○○

A concentrated, fruit-forward shot with lemon zest and mango at the core, a buttery smoothness mid-palate, and a long black tea finish. Fuller body than the filter version, with acidity tamed just enough for espresso without losing what makes this Geisha special.

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How to Brew

Best methods: Espresso machine, moka pot

Water temperature: 92–94°C

Ratio: Start at 1:2 (e.g. 18g in, 36g out) and adjust to taste — if acidity feels too sharp, try a slightly longer extraction or drop temperature by 1°C

Milk drinks: Works in a flat white or cortado if you enjoy fruit character coming through milk — but this Geisha is at its best as a short, clean shot where the citrus and tea notes can be fully appreciated

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Who Is This Coffee For?

You will love this coffee if you enjoy:

• Bright, fruit-forward espresso rather than chocolate-heavy shots
• Exploring premium Geisha varieties in espresso form
• Limited edition micro-lot coffees
• Concentrated citrus and tropical fruit in the cup
• Something genuinely different from your everyday espresso

If you prefer rich, smooth, chocolate-led espresso or take a lot of milk and want the coffee to stay in the background, this probably is not the right coffee for you — try our [Brazil Eagle Monte Carmelo espresso] instead.

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Why Choose This Coffee?

✔ Limited Edition release — will not be repeated once sold out

✔ Premium Colombian Geisha, 87.5 SCA score

✔ Dedicated espresso roast profile — not a filter roast pulled as espresso

✔ Chosen on cup quality, not farm reputation

✔ Freshly roasted in small batches to order

✔ Precision electric roasted for maximum flavour clarity

✔ Roasted in the UK

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does El Refugio Geisha taste like as an espresso?
A concentrated, fruit-forward shot — lemon zest and mango up front, with a buttery smoothness mid-palate and a long, elegant black tea finish. Bright and complex rather than rich and chocolatey.

How is this different from the filter roast version?
The espresso roast is taken slightly fuller than the filter version, building the body and sweetness needed to carry the Geisha's delicate fruit character through espresso extraction without turning thin or sharp. The citrus and tea notes remain but in a more concentrated, structured form.

What makes Geisha coffee special?
Geisha is regarded as one of the world's finest coffee varieties, celebrated for its remarkable floral aromas, vibrant acidity, exceptional sweetness and complex flavour profile. When grown and processed well, Geisha produces one of the most refined coffee experiences available — and as an espresso, that complexity becomes even more concentrated.

Why is Geisha more expensive?
Geisha plants produce lower yields than many commercial coffee varieties and require exceptional care during cultivation, harvesting and processing. Combined with strong worldwide demand, this makes genuine Geisha coffees relatively rare and commands a price premium even at green coffee level.

What does an SCA score of 87.5 mean?
The Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) uses a 100-point grading system to evaluate coffee quality. Coffees scoring above 80 points are classified as specialty coffee, while scores above 87 are considered exceptional and represent some of the highest-quality coffees available anywhere in the world.

What is the washed process?
Washed processing removes the fruit from the coffee cherry before drying, meaning the bean's flavour comes almost entirely from the seed itself. For Geisha espresso, this produces the clarity and definition needed for the variety's distinctive citrus and tea-like character to come through cleanly even under pressure.

What is an Ecomill?
An Ecomill is a compact, integrated processing unit that pulps and ferments coffee in a single machine, using significantly less water than traditional washed processing methods — a more sustainable approach without compromising cup quality.

Is this coffee good for milk-based drinks?
It can work well in a flat white or cortado if you enjoy fruit character coming through milk. For a more traditional, chocolate-led milk drink, our [Brazil Eagle Monte Carmelo espresso] is a better fit.

How fresh is it?
Roasted to order in small batches and dispatched promptly to ensure maximum freshness.

Is there a filter roast version?
Yes — El Refugio Geisha filter roast.

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Freshly Roasted Limited Edition Geisha Espresso

This Limited Edition Colombian Geisha Espresso is roasted fresh in small batches at Square Bean Coffee and dispatched quickly to ensure maximum freshness.

If you are looking to experience one of the world's most celebrated coffee varieties in concentrated espresso form, this beautifully balanced washed Geisha offers exceptional quality, outstanding flavour clarity and a memorable shot from the first pull to the last.