Tastes Like: Navel Orange, Honeysuckles, White Tea Origin: Volcan, Chiriqui, Panama Variety: Geisha Producer: Carlos Franceschi and Jean Paul Langenstein Elevation: 1,600 - 1,800 masl Process: Washed The Franceschi name has long been tied to the volcanic soils of Chiriquí. Carlos Aguilera Franceschi is the grandson of Efrain Franceschi, the visionary who founded *Carmen Estate* in the 1960s. Under the family’s stewardship, Carmen Estate grew into one of Panama’s most acclaimed farms, producing Geisha lots that helped define the country’s reputation on the global stage. Carlos himself spent decades guiding Carmen Estate to international renown, with the farm’s coffees winning at auctions like Best of Panama and setting benchmarks for Panamanian quality. In recent years, however, the family chose to sell Carmen Estate to a large overseas buyer. For Carlos, this was not an ending, but a chance to start again on his own terms. Together with his friend and business partner Jean Paul Langenstein, he created *Franceschi Coffee*—a project rooted in Volcán. Instead of managing a massive estate, Carlos and Jean Paul turned their focus toward smaller, carefully managed plots of land where only Geisha is cultivated. They also collaborate with neighboring farmers, purchasing select Geisha cherries and processing them with meticulous attention. The result is a farm project that blends heritage with a new, more intimate vision. *Franceschi Coffee* is about refining what Carlos learned at Carmen Estate, but applied to smaller, artisanal lots that let the purity of Geisha and the volcanic terroir shine through. This washed Geisha is a perfect expression of that philosophy. The classic processing method highlights clarity and brightness, allowing the variety’s natural elegance to shine. Expect a bouquet of florals—honeysuckle and orange blossom—with delicate citrus tones reminiscent of navel orange and clementine cream. A tea-like body rounds out the cup, making it both refined and approachable.