What is the Gesha 1931 coffee varietal?

Gesha 1931 is a specific accession of the Gesha (Geisha) variety, named for the year it was first formally collected by a British botanist near the village of Gesha in southwestern Ethiopia. The designation distinguishes this specific genetic material from other Gesha accessions and selections that have since proliferated in specialty coffee.

It's grown and offered by Gesha Village Coffee Estate in Bench Maji Zone, Ethiopia - the farm believes its plants are from the original 1931 collection site or closely related forest material. That provenance, and the farm's rigorous quality management at altitude, has produced lots that achieve very high auction prices and critical scores.

The cup profile sits firmly within the broader Gesha character - floral, bergamot, stone fruit, tea-like. The combination of forest environment, altitude, and documented lineage is what distinguishes Gesha 1931 lots and commands the premium they attract.