Bolivia Caranavi Gesha Coffee
Jasmine, tangerine and black tea from high-elevation Gesha in the Yungas of Caranavi.
A Gesha from Caranavi, in Bolivia's Yungas, where steep cloud-forest farms grow the floral Ethiopian variety. The cup is jasmine and tangerine over black tea and honey, light and delicate.
Sensory profile
How it unfolds
Where it sits
That is 92 mg in one serving (8 oz cup (240ml)), a concentration of 38.3 mg per 100 ml. The scale above ranks whole servings, and servings differ in size, so a larger drink can sit further right while being weaker cup for cup.
Editorial estimate, not a laboratory measurement
Related gear
| Brewing method | Kalita Wave |
|---|---|
| Coffee-to-water ratio | 1:17 |
| Dose & yield | 14.4g → 240g |
| Grind size | Medium-fine |
| Water temperature | 199°F / 93°C |
| Target brew time | 2:45-4:00 depending on method |
| Serving | 8 oz cup (240ml) |
What you need
- 14.4 g whole coffee beans, freshly roasted
- 240 g filtered water at 93°C
Required gear
- Cone or flat-bottom dripper
- Paper filters
- Gooseneck kettle
- Burr grinder
- Scale accurate to 1 g
- Timer
- Server or carafe
Step-by-step protocol
- 0:00Rinse the paper filter with hot water, discard the rinse, and add 14.4 g ground medium-fine. Level the bed.
- 0:00Start the timer and pour 29 g of water at 93°C, wetting every part of the bed. Let it bloom.
- 0:45Pour in slow spirals up to 144 g total, keeping the bed submerged and the level steady.
- 1:30Final pour up to 240 g total. Give the dripper one gentle swirl to settle the bed flat.
- 3:23Drawdown should finish around here. Swirl the server and serve.
What it may be good for
Caffeine, in numbers
We list about 92 mg for an 8 oz cup.
A rare find
Bolivian Gesha is made in small amounts by a handful of farms, so it is worth trying when you come across it.
What to watch out for
- Caffeine affects everyone differently. If you are pregnant or nursing, sensitive to caffeine, or have been told to limit it, check with your doctor about how much is right for you.
A Gesha from Caranavi, in Bolivia's Yungas, where steep cloud-forest farms grow the floral Ethiopian variety. The cup is jasmine and tangerine over black tea and honey, light and delicate.
Origin & Story
Bolivian Gesha has built a reputation in a short time. A farm such as Las Alasitas, owned by Pedro Rodríguez in a steep valley about ten kilometers outside the town of Caranavi, grows the variety at roughly 1,600 to 1,650 meters. Rodríguez left an accounting job to farm coffee in 1986, and he and his family have worked under the Agricafe banner to build Bolivian specialty coffee and to help hundreds of neighboring farmers. Las Alasitas lies in the colonia of Bolinda, in Caranavi province in the department of La Paz, and grows the Panama Gesha variety.
The results have been noticed. Las Alasitas Gesha naturals scored 89 points in a Cup of Excellence competition, and one tied for the highest rating in a March 2019 Coffee Review tasting of coffees from Peru, Bolivia and Ecuador.
Gesha is a variety of Ethiopian origin, and it does best where the air is cool and the altitude is high. Caranavi's cloud-forest valleys provide both, and the result is a coffee that tastes more like tea than like the usual cup.
Expect jasmine and tangerine on the nose, black tea in the body and honey in the finish. The recipe here uses a Kalita Wave at 93°C, which keeps the flowers clear.
Reading the Flavor Profile
| Axis | Score |
|---|---|
| Sweetness | 88/100 |
| Acidity | 84/100 |
| Bitterness | 18/100 |
| Body | 56/100 |
| Aroma | 98/100 |
These values are comparative editorial positions within our own catalog, calibrated so entries can be ranked against each other. They are not laboratory measurements.
How much caffeine is in Bolivia Caranavi Gesha Coffee?
One serving, 8 oz cup (240ml), contains approximately 92 mg of caffeine.
What temperature should I use for Bolivia Caranavi Gesha Coffee?
Target 93°C (199°F).
How long should Bolivia Caranavi Gesha Coffee be extracted?
Timing: 2:45-4:00 depending on method. Method: Kalita Wave. Ratio: 60g coffee per Liter of water. Grind or leaf format: Medium-fine.
Where is Caranavi?
Caranavi is a province and town in the Yungas, in Bolivia's La Paz department, where the Andes drop toward the Amazon basin. It is the center of the country's specialty coffee.
Is Bolivian Gesha different from Panamanian Gesha?
They are the same variety grown in different places. Altitude, climate and processing change the cup, so a Bolivian Gesha from the Yungas tends to taste of its own landscape: here, jasmine and tangerine with a tea-like body.
Who should avoid Bolivia Caranavi Gesha Coffee?
Caffeine affects everyone differently. If you are pregnant or nursing, sensitive to caffeine, or have been told to limit it, check with your doctor about how much is right for you. This information is educational and is not medical advice. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, managing a cardiac or gastrointestinal condition, or taking prescription medication, discuss caffeine and botanical intake with a qualified healthcare professional before making changes.
What people say
Hario V60 Size 02 Ceramic Dripper
In this recipe: Cone or flat-bottom dripper
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