Ethiopia Gesha Village Oma Rarities Gesha 1931

Region: Bench Maji, Ethiopia
Producer: Gesha Village Coffee Estate — Adam & Rachel
Farm: Oma Lot 160
Varietal: Gesha 1931
Process: Natural
Altitude: 1,931–2,040 masl*
Grade: Gold Label / Rarities
Taste Note: Floral, berries, grapefruit, plum
Brewing method: Best as pour over (V60, Origami, Kalita)

Roaster’s Note:

This Oma Gesha opens with an elegant floral fragrance, followed by layers of juicy berry sweetness. Bright grapefruit adds a refreshing citrus lift, while ripe plum brings a softer, deeper fruit character underneath. The natural process gives the cup a vibrant fruit expression, while Gesha 1931 contributes its signature aromatic elegance, creating a refined and layered coffee with remarkable clarity.

Bean Info

Gesha Village Coffee Estate is located in the Bench Maji region of southwestern Ethiopia, close to the area associated with the wild forests where Gesha coffee was first documented. The estate was established by Adam Overton and Rachel Samuel, who became fascinated with Ethiopian coffee and eventually searched for land suitable for producing exceptional coffee. Their search led them to the Bench Maji area, where they established Gesha Village.

The estate covers approximately 471 hectares and is divided into eight distinct farm blocks. Rather than treating the estate as one uniform plantation, Gesha Village separates its coffees by block, allowing differences in elevation, microclimate and growing conditions to remain visible in the final cup. Oma is the largest block at approximately 67.6 hectares and is planted primarily with the Gesha 1931 variety. The block is named after a respected religious leader of the Mianit people.

Why Gesha 1931?

Gesha 1931 is one of the signature varieties cultivated at Gesha Village. The variety was selected from the diverse genetic population found around the estate and is distinguished from the estate's other major variety, Gori Gesha. Gesha 1931 is particularly associated with the floral, tea-like and elegant aromatic character for which Gesha Village has become known.

At Oma's high elevations, cool temperatures and substantial rainfall encourage slower cherry development. The estate's surrounding forest environment also contributes to a diverse ecosystem. Gesha Village has actively worked to restore native vegetation and integrate coffee cultivation with the surrounding environment rather than treating the farm as a conventional monoculture.

The estate has also made considerable effort in traceability and environmental stewardship. Each block is separately identified, and the farm maintains internal tracking from cherry collection through processing and export. The supplied farm information also describes reforestation efforts, with native trees planted to restore areas that had previously been cleared. Water conservation and wastewater treatment are likewise part of the estate's processing philosophy.

Gold Label / Rarities

This particular coffee carries the Gold Label / Rarities designation. This is significant: Gesha Village describes Rarities as representing approximately 10% of the estate's total production, reserved for its most exceptional coffees outside the auction lots. These coffees are selected for their complexity and rarity and are frequently chosen by internationally competing baristas.

For this lot, the combination of Oma's high elevation, Gesha 1931 genetics, meticulous block separation and Gold Label selection makes it substantially more distinctive than a standard Gesha Village natural.

Natural Processing

The coffee is processed as a traditional natural, with whole ripe cherries dried intact on raised African drying beds. The cherries are carefully sorted before drying, and the estate manages the drying environment to encourage slow and even moisture reduction.

The natural process allows the coffee to retain more of the fruit character during drying, which complements the aromatic qualities of Gesha 1931. Gesha Village's official descriptions of Oma coffees commonly highlight floral aromatics alongside peach, apricot, melon, citrus and honey-like sweetness.

For this particular lot, the supplied cupping profile of floral, berry, grapefruit and plum gives it a slightly deeper fruit direction while retaining the floral identity expected from Oma Gesha 1931.