Roast: Light 

Country: United States

Region: Hōlualoa, North Kona

Producer: Noelani Farm

Processing: Champagne Natural

Altitude: 750masl (2400-2500ft)

Tasting Notes

A complex coffee with aromas of bergamot, berries and tropical fruits. A sweet cup with a vibrant acidity that hints of strawberry jam, passionfruit, and orange candy . Milk chocolate in the finish. Excellent as pour-over or cold brew.

Background Info

 Geisha has been the world's most sought after coffee variety since it rose to fame in 2004 after Hacienda La Esmeralda won the Best of Panama cupping competition with it. Since then it has slowly been planted at farms around the world.

In March, 2015 Doug McKenna imported Geisha seeds to Hawaii from Finca La Milagrosa in Boquete, Panama. in February, 2018 he planted 2000 trees of Geisha in a field over-looking Kealakekua bay in Kona. 

2020 was the first commercial sized harvest. Beginning in July we began working with farm owner Doug Mckenna doing yeast fermentation trials on the cherries with a dozen different wine yeast strains and several processing methods. We found a couple that paired very nicely with the geisha variety, helping to accentuate its inherent tropical fruit aromas when paired with our Champagne natural processing method. In 2021 this coffee began racking up awards in cupping competitions. In July 2024 his geisha once again took 1st place in the Hawaii Coffee Association cupping contest out of 100+ entries from across the state.

Now after a few more years we finally get to see the potential of the Geisha variety at high elevation farms in Kona and can offer a champagne natural version of this coffee that can still astound in the company of the best natural process geishas from around the world. Only 15Lb produced.

Located in the Holualoa area, Noelani Coffee Farm is one of the Kona District’s highest-elevation farms at 2500ft. The first plantings from 2018-2020 were of the K7 variety . 1.5 acres of the Geisha Variety  propagated from plants at  Doug McKenna’s Kona Geisha Farm were added in 2021. 

We were excited when in November of 2023 the first harvests of Geisha started coming in. Tiny amounts of cherry every few weeks. After several months of harvest we blended these smalls batches of coffee into our first release of Kona geisha washed this summer.

The cool, cloud-shrouded, perpetually misty climate at these altitudes is more akin to the environment of Boquete, Panama than it is most other farms in the Kona district. 

That first roast of Noelani Geisha washed coffee scored 96 on Coffee Review 

"High-toned, tropical, exquisitely balanced. Orange blossom, cocoa nib, guava, young ginger, cedar in aroma and cup. Juicy-bright yet delicate acidity; silky-smooth mouthfeel. Long, resonant finish that fulfills the promise of the cup."

Frequently Asked Question

What is yeast fermented natural coffee?

Yeast fermented natural coffee is a technique in which yeast is introduced to the coffee during the fermentation process. This controlled fermentation can lead to greater consistency and distinct flavor profiles, often enhancing the coffee's complexity and depth. The process is akin to making wine or beer, hence the "Champagne" in our Kona Geisha Champagne Natural.

What is light roast coffee?

Light roast coffee refers to coffee beans that have been roasted for a shorter time, resulting in a lighter color and no oil on the surface of the beans. Light roasts are known for their vibrant, fruity, and acidic flavors, which allow the unique taste profiles of the coffee's origin to shine through. They offer a more nuanced, delicate flavor compared to darker roasts.