Relationship
After bringing two micro-lots from Colombia, El Silencio and Nestor Lasso, we were very excited to have Falcon Coffees on the cupping table again as we were looking for our next Peru offering. Peru- Santa Rosa is another coffee we were able to choose from Falcon Coffee offerings in this round and team at Falcon have been amazing in their support and in how they support us with information regarding coffee.
Country
Although coffee production in Peru dates back to the 18th century, it wasn't until the early 20th century that the country began exporting in meaningful volumes. A mountainous country, farms are often remote and challenging to reach. Most production happens on the eastern slopes of the Andes, carried out by smallholder farmers working plots of a few hectares. As of 2017, coffee was Peru's most valuable agricultural export, though it now faces growing competition from grapes, blueberries, and avocados. Infrastructure remains a persistent challenge as the terrain makes transportation difficult and limits how many producers can consistently access specialty markets. That said, Peru is the world's leading producer of fair trade and organic Arabica coffees, and a quiet but steady wave of innovative producers is beginning to put it on the specialty map in a more serious
Region
Cajamarca sits in northern Peru and is one of the country's most important coffee-growing departments. Blessed with the fertile soils of the Andes and a moderate, stable climate, it produces coffees with structure and clarity that reward attentive processing. Most producers here work small plots, with average farm size running 2 to 3 hectares, and the remote nature of many communities has historically limited access to markets and infrastructure.
Chirinos is a district within the Jaén province of Cajamarca and one of its standout areas for specialty production. El Cerro farm sits in the El Corazon village within Chirinos, surrounded by natural forest. The name Cerro, meaning mountain, reflects the landscape directly. At 1,850 to 2,000 meters above sea level, the altitude slows cherry maturation and builds the kind of dense, sugar-rich seeds that translate to clarity and aromatic intensity in the cup. It is an environment well-suited to a variety as demanding as Geisha.
Farm – Finca El Cerro
Efrain Carhuallocllo Salvador farms 4 hectares in El Corazon village, Chirinos, and has built one of the most distinguished track records of any producer in Peru. He competed in the very first Cup of Excellence Peru competition and placed second, a result that announced him to the international specialty market, and has gone on to win numerous local and national competitions since. He is widely regarded as one of the most decorated and innovative producers the country has produced.
His farm and wet mill are run with precision. Efrain cultivates both Caturra (yellow and red) and Geisha varieties, and while herbicides and pesticides are not used, he introduces chemical fertilizers selectively to support yields. This is our first time sourcing from Efrain and our first Geisha in the roastery, two milestones in one lot.
Variety – Geisha
The variety is tall and willowy with elongated beans and a distinctive drooping branch structure. It is low-yielding, susceptible to disease, and demands high altitudes and meticulous processing to express its potential, all of which makes it labor-intensive to grow. The payoff, when conditions align, is a cup with extraordinary aromatic complexity: jasmine, bergamot, tropical fruit, and a tea-like clarity that is immediately recognizable. Geisha grown in Peru is still rare, and at 1,850 to 2,000 meters in Chirinos with a producer of Efrain's caliber behind it, this lot had our full attention on the cupping table.
