Grown on the renowned El Socorro farm in Guatemala, El Socorro Washed Geisha is part of a micro-lot which came 5th in the country at the esteemed Cup of Excellence Awards, a competition often regarded as the ‘Oscars’ of coffee.
Last year it was recognized as the best coffee in Guatemala, first place, scoring an impressive 91.13 points. Coffees scoring over 90 points receive the prestigious Presidential Award, elevating them beyond specialty coffee status. Only 1%–5% of coffees submitted to the Cup of Excellence (COE) achieve scores above 90 points.
Exclusively available in the UK through Thomson’s Coffee, El Socorro Washed Geisha can otherwise only be found in a few select locations across Asia and Copenhagen, making this a “rare opportunity for Glasgow’s coffee lovers”.
Coffee roaster Javier Gutiérrez Abril, originally from Guatemala but now based in Glasgow, was one of the buyers of the Washed Geisha beans, which last year sold for over $130 per pound at origin.
His company, Caribbean Goods, currently supplies 36000 kg of green coffee annually to specialty roasters across the UK.
In partnership with Thomson’s Coffee they secured a 60KG share of the prized beans.
“El Socorro Washed Geisha is an exceptional coffee,” he said.
“It’s rich in flavour, with a natural sweetness that makes it stand out from other coffees.
“El Socorro is one of Guatemala’s most innovative coffee farms, and they take great care to cultivate coffee on steep mountains, where human hands are required over machines.
“This combination of tradition and innovation makes their coffee truly special.”
As Scotland’s oldest coffee roaster, Thomson’s prides itself on sourcing the finest beans from around the world.
An ongoing partnership with Caribbean Goods not only brings ‘world-class’ coffees to Scotland but also contributes to an important cause.
The two companies are currently working together with the Maia Project project to support indigenous women in Guatemala, helping provide safe education and prevent early marriages for girls aged 13 to 17 years old.
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Russell Jenkins, managing director of Thomson’s Coffee, said: “We’re excited to continually help coffee drinkers in Glasgow expand their horizons. El Socorro Washed Geisha is an extraordinary coffee, and we’re proud to bring it to our customers.
“Javier has been a key partner in helping us source high-quality micro-lots from Guatemala. Not only does he have a deep understanding of coffee, but he also shares our commitment to sustainability and ethical sourcing.
“This is as close to a perfect coffee as you can get. With its delicate, floral, and clean taste profile, El Socorro Washed Geisha is an extraordinary opportunity for coffee drinkers to explore the nuances of high-end coffee.
“We’re seeing more and more people interested in understanding more about the sourcing and processing, asking questions about grind sizes, water temperature, and specific flavour notes in the beans they’re buying. We’re always happy to help any customer learn more about what goes into each cup.”
Thomson’s Coffee has now introduced El Socorro Washed Geisha on its website as well as at its newly open Shop on the Gallowgate in Glasgow, as well as its other locations in the West End and Giffnock.
This comes after the firm revealed its website sales have increased by 600% in the last four years, indicating a surge of interest in brewing speciality coffee at home.
For more information, visit www.thomsonscoffee.com.
