Our Natural Gesha is a 2021 Good Food Award Finalist

For those who haven’t heard, we’ve got exciting beans to spill. Our Natural Gesha craft coffee was named a finalist in the 2021 Good Food Awards!

One of the top honors in the food industry, the Good Food Awards recognize the country’s best-tasting and most responsibly sourced coffees.

“It was an incredible honor to once again be recognized among the country’s top craft coffee roasters,” said Founder and President Greg Ubert.  

Our Fourth Good Food Recognition

This is our fourth Good Food Award placement in five years. Ethiopian Kossa Kebena coffee won in 2017 and 2020 and was a 2019 finalist.

“Since most of the finalists were Ethiopian coffees, we were excited to see how much the judges loved our Peruvian Gesha,” said Sustainability Director Brandon Bir.

One of our favorite coffees, this fruit-dried Gesha from Oxapampa, Peru is nothing short of amazing. With notes of florals, mango, pineapple and other tropical fruits, it’s no wonder this coffee placed among the country’s best at the Good Food Awards.

The Journey to Source Natural Gesha

Brandon discovered this exceptional coffee during one of his frequent trips to develop relationships with Peruvian coffee farmers.

He met grower Hector Portocarrero through the NARSA (NEGOCIACIONES AGROINDUSTRIAL AREVALO S. A.) co-op.

“We are thankful that Hector shares his exceptional Gesha with us,” Brandon said. “Our friends at NARSA dried this special coffee on their roof-top drying facility, which assisted in even-drying and clarity in flavor and sweetness.

A Unique Friend2Farmer Initiative

Crimson Cup has been working with NARSA since 2014 as a part of our unique Friend2Farmer initiative. We make economic, environmental and social impacts in coffee farming communities through this direct trade strategy.

NARSA Founder Don Julio Abel Arevalo Tello and his team focus on helping small coffee and cacao farmers in Peru’s Central Highlands and Amazon regions gain market access throughout Peru and beyond.

 “Don Julio’s team pushes cup quality and crop health to develop a more sustainable industry,” Brandon said. “This aligns perfectly with Crimson Cup’s commitment to quality and sustainability.”

Among other contributions to the local coffee community, we have funded rooftop raised drying beds and helped develop and certify The Coffee Quality Lab at NARSA.

We created Friend2Farmer to forge a connection between coffee farmers and coffee consumers.

Specialty coffee consumers seek out exceptional coffees and are willing to pay more for a superb cup. When growers earn more, they can invest in farms and communities.

As a coffee roaster, we’re honored to work with small-plot farmers to produce the best cup and to help win recognition for their hard work.