A new edition of Cloud Nine — and a new origin. This time we're in the Antigua Valley, Guatemala, at Finca Buena Vista, a 90-hectare farm managed by Luis Pedro Zelaya Aguirre since 1995. The farm sits at elevations between 1,500 and 1,890 meters, in one of Guatemala's most historically significant coffee-growing regions. And at its heart is a Geisha story unlike most others.
It started with a gift. A close family friend and neighbor at Finca Filadelfia, returning from Panama with Geisha seeds, shared some with Luis Pedro. That simple gesture set something in motion that would take decades to fully unfold. The first generations showed exceptional cup quality — but lacked uniformity. Growth, productivity, and fruit characteristics varied from tree to tree.
Rather than replacing the material, the Zelaya family chose to improve it from within. Year after year, they selected seeds from the best-performing trees, evaluating morphology, vigor, branching, and overall health — as well as the sweetness of ripe cherries and what ended up in the cup. Generation after generation of patient, deliberate selection. The result is a Geisha population that is now more uniform and stable than it ever was, while retaining every bit of the floral elegance and complexity that makes the variety worth growing.
This is our first year working with Finca Buena Vista and the Zelaya family, and we're genuinely excited about where this relationship goes.