The world’s most hyped coffee - El Socorro Washed Geisha from Guatemala - has arrived in Scotland. It has been imported by Glasgow-based coffee importer Javier Gutiérrez Abril and is now set to be offered by Thomson’s Coffee, the country's oldest roaster.
Grown on the renowned El Socorro farm in Guatemala, El Socorro Washed Geisha is part of a micro-lot that came 5th in the country at the esteemed Cup of Excellence Awards, a competition often regarded as the ‘Oscars’ of coffee.
Last year it was recognised as the best coffee in Guatemala, first place, scoring an impressive 91.13 points.
Coffees scoring over 90 points receive the prestigious Presidential Award, elevating them beyond specialty coffee status. Only 1%–5% of coffees submitted to the Cup of Excellence (COE) achieve scores above 90 points.
Exclusively available in the UK through Thomson’s Coffee, El Socorro Washed Geisha can otherwise only be found in a few select locations across Asia and Copenhagen, making this a rare opportunity for Glasgow’s coffee lovers.
Javier Gutiérrez Abril, originally from Guatemala but now based in Glasgow, was one of the fortunate buyers of the rare Washed Geisha beans, which last year sold for over $130 per pound at origin.
His company, Caribbean Goods, currently supplies 36,000 kg of green coffee annually to specialty roasters across the UK. In partnership with Thomson’s Coffee they secured a 60KG share of the prized beans.
“El Socorro Washed Geisha is an exceptional coffee,” said Javier. “It’s rich in flavour, with a natural sweetness that makes it stand out from other coffees.
“El Socorro is one of Guatemala’s most innovative coffee farms, and they take great care to cultivate coffee on steep mountains, where human hands are required over machines. This combination of tradition and innovation makes their coffee truly special.”
As Scotland’s oldest coffee roaster, Thomson’s has built a proud legacy of sourcing the finest beans from around the world.
This ongoing partnership with Caribbean Goods not only brings world-class coffees to Scotland but also contributes to an important cause.
The two companies are currently working together with the Maia Project project to support indigenous women in Guatemala, helping provide safe education and prevent early marriages for girls aged 13-17 years old.
Thomson’s Coffee will introduce El Socorro Washed Geisha on their website as well as at its newly opened Shop on the Gallowgate, and its other locations in the West End and Giffnock.
Russell Jenkins, managing director of Thomson’s Coffee, said: “We’re excited to continually help coffee drinkers in Glasgow expand their horizons. El Socorro Washed Geisha is an extraordinary coffee, and we’re proud to bring it to our customers.
“Javier has been a key partner in helping us source high-quality micro-lots from Guatemala. Not only does he have a deep understanding of coffee, but he also shares our commitment to sustainability and ethical sourcing.
“This is as close to a perfect coffee as you can get. With its delicate, floral, and clean taste profile, El Socorro Washed Geisha is an extraordinary opportunity for coffee drinkers to explore the nuances of high-end coffee.
“The coffee scene has a lot of similarities to the wine or craft beer scenes, with enthusiasts keen to learn different brewing techniques and exploring a variety of coffee origins.
“We’re seeing more and more people interested in understanding more about the sourcing and processing, asking questions about grind sizes, water temperature, and specific flavour notes in the beans they’re buying.
“We’re always happy to help any customer learn more about what goes into each cup.
“For the best experience, we recommend resting El Socorro Washed Geisha for a minimum of two weeks after the roast date, and grinding using a high-quality burr grinder and we think it tastes best brewed as a pourover filter coffee.”
The UK’s cafés and coffee shops industry saw a 36.1% increase in market size in 2022, and now valued at £5.6 billion.
But there’s a growing interest in specialty coffee at home too — Thomson's’ website sales have increased by 600% the last four years.
