Comrades in the fight against global capitalism tend to find each other, and we were lucky enough to meet Herbert and Matcha from La Real Expedition Botanical through our good friend Alex at Scenery*. What was supposed to be a quick meet'n'greet with the folks from LaReb turned into a 3-hour conversation about making things right in the world. They wholeheartedly share our values of farmer empowerment, decolonising the coffee supply chain, egalitarian workplaces, and of course, delicious coffee! This lot from their producer Finca El Encanto is a super special washed gesha with incredibly clean and complex notes of peach, jasmine, and Meyer lemon. Elegant yet structured, it's the platonic ideal of what a washed gesha from Colombia should taste like. We can't recommend it highly enough. Finca El Encanto is run by Daisy and Freddy Acevedo near Filandia in the Quindio region of Colombia. Here they focus on nature conservation, and coffee plants are grown in small, carefully-tended quantities under rare native trees. There is also a cupping lab next to the house to keep quality at the forefront of their process. Daisy and Freddy work closely with Daisy's father Gustavo to build a family legacy of exquisite coffees that exist in concert with nature. Be sure to check out their gorgeous honey gesha and natural too! To process this lot, cherry was in-husk rested for 48 hours followed by open fermentation for 48 hours in dry mass. It was then fully washed and greenhouse dried for 30 days with a mechanical drying finish. *Probably the best roastery in London, staffed with really lovely people. Check them out.   Elevation: 1680 MASL Varietal: Gesha Cup Score: 91 Price paid per kg: £20 Process: Washed