Maragesha
Sources: The Barn (website); A Matter of Concrete (website)
Maragesha is a natural hybrid of Gesha and Maragogype. It inherits Gesha’s signature aromatic florals and complexity alongside Maragogype’s pronounced sweetness and characteristic large bean size. (source: The Barn (website))
Cup Profile
When brewed, Maragesha opens with notes of lychee, strawberry, and papaya. A fresh citrus edge brings lemongrass and bergamot. Extended fermentation (when used) adds deep candy-like sweetness and gentle tropical acidity. (source: The Barn (website) — Jardines del Edén Maragesha, Colombia, 1950 m, Natural EF2 process)
Growing and Processing
Maragesha is rare and requires careful production. The Barn sources it from Jardines del Edén (Felipe & Luis Arcila, Quindio, Colombia, 1800–2150 m), where it is planted alongside banana, plantain, and mandarin oranges for shade and biodiversity. The lot The Barn sells undergoes a proprietary Natural EF2 fermentation protocol developed in 2018:
- Cherries hand-sorted.
- 24-hour aerobic fermentation.
- 48–50 hours in bags (anaerobic), temperature-controlled at 20–22°C.
- Whole-cherry drying on raised beds with regular inspection.
Positioning
Maragesha occupies a similar premium positioning to Gesha — sold at specialty prices justified by rarity, complexity, and the quality of execution required to bring out its character. It is not currently grown by Kaiserblick Specialty Coffee but is referenced here as a market variety appearing in the portfolios of European buyers.
European buyers currently stocking Maragesha
| Buyer | Origin sourced | Processing | Price range | Tier |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Barn Coffee Roasters | Colombia (Jardines del Edén, Quindio) | Natural EF2 | — | Premium |
| A Matter of Concrete | Colombia (Wilder Lazo, Huila) | Washed Anaerobic 120h | €15.1–€129.9/bag ex-VAT | MONO/RARE |
Both buyers source Maragesha from Colombia. An El Salvador expression from Kaiserblick would be a new origin and terroir angle for both. The AMOC MONO/RARE placement and price ceiling (up to €129.9/bag) validate the variety’s commercial ceiling in the Dutch market.
Relation to Maragogype
Maragogype is a natural mutation of Typica, discovered in Maragogype, Bahia, Brazil, in the late 19th century. It is notable for its very large beans (sometimes called “elephant beans”) and elongated cherries. Cup quality is considered good but variable depending on growing altitude. It is the parent variety from which Pacamara was also derived (Maragogype Rojo × Pacas, El Salvador, 1958–1980). Maragesha inherits Maragogype’s size and sweetness tendency, refined by Gesha’s aromatic complexity.