Guatemalan Geisha Magic: A Year of Coffee and Discovery

Over the past year, my journey as a roaster has taken a whole new dimension—thanks to the breathtaking quality of Guatemalan coffees and the incredible power of my Aillio Bullet R1 roaster. As a Level 1 and Level 2 Certified Roaster by the Sustainable Coffee Institute (SCI), I’ve had the privilege to explore and truly understand the intricacies of high-end coffees, especially from my home country.

☕ The Beauty of Guatemalan Naturals

This past year, I’ve been lucky enough to roast and enjoy two exceptional Geishas from Guatemala:

• One processed through carbonic maceration
• The other a classic natural

Both coffees scored incredibly well:

• Carbonic Maceration Geisha – 90 points
• Natural Geisha – 91 points

These coffees went to auction at incredibly high prices, and it’s no surprise. The complexity of the natural Geisha blew me away with its bright florals, juicy berries, and a silky mouthfeel that lingers like a fine dessert wine. The carbonic maceration Geisha was an entirely different ride—elegant structure, a vibrant acidity reminiscent of ripe stone fruits, and a wild tropical twist that made every cup a small celebration.

🔥 Roasting with the Aillio Bullet

The Aillio Bullet R1 changed my roasting game in the best way possible. Precision, repeatability, and control allowed me to dial in roast curves that truly brought out the best in these exquisite beans. It’s no exaggeration to say that this machine helped me unlock flavor clarity I couldn’t quite get with other setups before.

I’ve logged roast after roast, learning how heat application, charge temp, and development time all shape the final cup—and the Bullet made that process intuitive and powerful.

🚀 Looking Ahead: 2025 Harvest

With such an amazing experience behind me, I’m already eagerly tracking the 2025 Guatemalan coffee harvest. The bar has been set incredibly high, but I’m confident there’s even more magic on the horizon. I’m hoping to get my hands on new natural and experimental-process coffees as early as possible to keep pushing my craft and sharing the joy of truly exceptional cups.

📸 More roasting shots and cupping notes coming soon...

Stay tuned as I continue to roast, cup, and share the amazing world of Guatemalan coffee—one small batch at a time.