HERMANOS GUERREROS - Peru

Producer – Hermanos Guerroeros

Process – Washed 

Varietal – Geisha

Origin – Peru

Tasting Notes – Mango, Red Berries, Floral

Notes:

Just outside of Jaén, in the small community of El Palto, Bellavista, the Guerrero family has been growing coffee for three generations. Coffee farming is in their blood, and since taking over the farms in 2006, the current generation has been building on that legacy. Each family member tends to their own two hectares of land, but they come together to process their coffee at shared washing and drying stations—a real family operation.

Up until 2020, the Guerreros sold their coffee to local buyers at standard market prices. But once they learned more about the specialty coffee world and the premiums it could bring, everything changed. They started exploring new varieties and making serious upgrades to their farms. They've replanted with exciting cultivars like Marshell and Geisha, spaced between 70 cm and 3 meters apart, and even added irrigation systems to help tackle the increasingly dry seasons in the Jaén area.

They’re now part of Falcon’s Specialty Plus program, which has opened up a whole new world of possibilities. Working closely with an agronomist, they've been experimenting with different processing techniques. One honey process in particular really stood out this year—it scored an impressive 88 points. For that batch, they rested the cherries for 36 hours before depulping, then fermented them in barrels for another 84 hours. Throughout the process, they kept a close eye on things: temperature stayed around 27°C, pH was 4.1, and humidity held steady at 69%. After fermentation, the coffee was dried on African beds for 12 days.

It’s not just the experimental lots that have improved. Thanks to new tools provided by the Specialty Plus program—like refractometers, thermometers, and fermentation barrels—the Guerreros have even seen their traditional washed coffees improve by 2.5 points. That’s opened doors to new markets and better prices, helping their farm become more sustainable for the next generation.