New ORGANIC SPECIAL SELECTION
PERU RAYOS
DEL SOL GEISHA
DEL SOL GEISHA
By Intelligentsia Sourcing | July 19, 2024
New ORGANIC SPECIAL SELECTION
PERU RAYOS
DEL SOL
GEISHA
DEL SOL
GEISHA
By Intelligentsia Sourcing | July 19, 2024
New single origin
COLOMBIA
STRIPED RED BOURBON
STRIPED RED BOURBON
COLOMBIA
STRIPED RED BOURBON
STRIPED RED BOURBON
By Intelligentsia Sourcing | January 26, 2024
The Variety
Rayos Del Sol & Percy Pintado
Nestled in the heights of Alto Ihuamaca, San Ignacio, Cajamarca, lies a third-generation coffee farm dedicated to quality and innovation. Situated at an altitude of 1,800 meters, this farm cultivates Bourbon, Caturra, and Catimor, and has more recently ventured into planting a small, one hectare plot of Geisha at the farms highest point, 1,850 meters. Back in April, we released a lot from Rayos del Sol that represented a blend of varieties from the farm.
Embracing a spirit of excellence, Percy Pintado has started submitting coffee to Peru’s esteemed Cup of Excellence competition. This most recent harvest, his coffee earned 30th place. The feedback he received will help Percy refine his lot composition process for the harvests to come, with a focus on enhancing cup-to-cup consistency of microlots.
Geisha
Though Geishas are a common feature on our Special Selection menu, they are not commonly found in Peru. Percy's decision to dedicate a one hectare portion, or about 20%, of his farm to Geisha plants is a testament to his commitment to producing high quality coffees. This commitment also helps transform the industry's historic and outdated perception of Peru as a country that only produces large, average quality lots destined for blends.
The name of the farm, Rayos del Sol, or Rays of Sunlight, has a meaning that is both literal and metaphorical for Percy. In his own words, translated from Spanish, he communicates it best:
"The first years of harvest were not abundant, but each cherry of Geisha that I managed to grow was like a ray of hope. It was then that I decided to name my farm 'Rayos de Sol,' in honor of the light I always glimpsed on the horizon, even in the darkest moments.Over time, Rayos de Sol has become a renowned Geisha cultivation site, and my efforts began to bear fruit. Each cup of coffee produced here represents a personal victory over adversity."
Processed with Intention
Rayos del Sol's traditional fermentation process is focused on preserving purity of flavor. Coffee is depulped on the same day it is picked, fermented in tanks, and then rinsed with water after approximately 24 hours. Recognizing the climatic challenges posed by Peru's wet weather during harvest and drying periods, Percy has invested in infrastructure to ensure an optimal drying process. Raised drying beds, strategically arranged in a multi-level layout to enhance ventilation, provide the ideal environment for drying the coffee.
This Geisha lot was dried over a period of 15 days until reaching a moisture content of 11%, an ideal metric for helping ensure the coffee's stability over its long journey to our Chicago Roasting Works.
Look for
Rosemary | Juniper | Root Beer
This Coffee is Organic,
Direct Trade, and in Season.
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