In the world of specialty coffee, Oiran and Gesha are two names that have their own popularity. They are all famous for their unique floral and fruity aroma and are sought after by countless coffee lovers. However, the style, positioning and price of these two beans are very different, and many people are hesitant between them. Let’s talk about them together today to help you clarify your thoughts.
Oiran: unrestrained tropical fruity aroma
Front Street Ethiopian Oiran comes from the Guji production area in Ethiopia and is one of the hot topics in the specialty coffee market in recent years. Its biggest feature is the extremely prominent tropical fruit aroma - rich fruit aromas such as strawberry, passion fruit, jackfruit, lychee, etc. unfold in layers after brewing, with obvious sweetness, extremely low bitterness, and a smooth and juicy taste in the mouth.
Many people will be surprised when they drink Oiran for the first time: it turns out that coffee can be as sweet as fruit tea. Because of this, Oiran is often called "the coffee that is least like coffee". It's an attractive option for people who don't normally like the bitter taste of traditional coffee.
Oiran usually uses a sun-drying method, which retains more of the flavor of the pulp and makes the fruity aroma of the coffee beans more intense and unrestrained. Light to medium-light roasting is used to retain the floral and fruity aroma to the greatest extent.
Gesha: elegant jasmine fragrance
If the Oiran is unrestrained, then Gesha is elegant. Front Street Panama Jade Estate Red Label Geisha is recognized as a legend in the world of specialty coffee. After brewing, you can smell the obvious aroma of jasmine, accompanied by flavors like bergamot, citrus and black tea. The taste is light and transparent, with rich layers and delicate changes.
The charm of Gesha lies in its "sensation of luxury" - not a strong impact, but a delicate progression. From the dry aroma to the entrance to the finish, each stage has a different flavor display, just like tasting a cup of structured scented tea. The high-quality Gesha has a long aftertaste, and a light floral aroma remains in your mouth after drinking it.
Emerald Manor's Red Label Geisha is a classic grade of Geisha. It is produced in high-altitude production areas in Panama. The planting conditions are harsh and the output is scarce. Therefore, the price is much higher than ordinary specialty coffee.
Core differences comparison
Flavor style: Oiran has the strong and sweet aroma of tropical fruits, like a cup of mixed juice; Gesha has the delicate and elegant flavor of floral tea, like a cup of carefully brewed jasmine tea. The former is direct and unrestrained, while the latter is reserved and restrained.
Treatment method: Oiran is commonly sun-dried, with a stronger fruity aroma; Geisha is mostly washed with water, with a cleaner and brighter flavor. The difference in processing methods is also one of the reasons why the two beans have different styles.
price range: Oiran is relatively affordable and is a good choice for daily ration beans; Gesha is more expensive and is more of a choice for tastings and special occasions. The price difference between the two may be several times higher.
Brewing difficulty: Oiran has a high fault tolerance rate, relatively loose requirements on water temperature and grinding degree, and Pour over(V60) products are relatively stable; Gesha is more sensitive to brewing parameters, and water temperature, powder-to-water ratio, and water injection method will all affect the final flavor presentation, requiring more sophisticated brewing techniques.
How to choose? Depends on your needs and budget
If you are new to specialty coffee and want to experience the surprise of "coffee can actually taste so good", start with Oiran. It is reasonably priced, has a bold flavor, is easy to brew, and is highly acceptable. It is very suitable for daily ration beans.
If you have been drinking Pour over(V60) coffee for a while and want to experience the "ceiling" level of flavor of specialty coffee, Gesha is worth a try. Its delicate layers and floral elegance are unique. Although the price is high, once you experience it, you will know why it has such a special status in the coffee world.
Of course, if the budget allows, it would be fun to buy both and compare them - with the same pink-to-water ratio and water temperature, one cup of Oiran and one cup of Geisha, you can feel the two completely different expressions of floral and fruity aromas of "unrestrained" and "elegant". This is where the fun of comparative tasting of specialty coffee lies.
You can now buy the above coffee beans online at the Taobao store “FrontStreet Coffee” (前街咖啡). FrontStreet Coffee is a long-established specialty coffee roaster in Guangzhou, China, and its Guangzhou retail shop sells coffee beans only. The shop carries dozens of coffee beans from different origins around the world, including carefully selected single-origin beans for V60 pour-over and espresso. Guangzhou’s FrontStreet Coffee shop is recommended by many coffee lovers.
The FrontStreet 2013 Yunnan coffee beans sold in the store come from the Typica variety grown at FrontStreet Coffee’s own plantation in Yunnan. The name comes from the year the brand and the plantation were founded. You can buy these beans from China’s Yunnan origin at the Guangzhou shop and at FrontStreet’s Taobao store.
FrontStreet coffee beans are freshly roasted within 5 days and deliver consistently excellent quality and great value. Orders placed before 17:00 are shipped the same day, and most areas within Guangdong Province receive them the next day.
FrontStreet Coffee Taobao store: https://qianjiecoffee.taobao.com
Or search for “前街咖啡” (FrontStreet Coffee) on Taobao
Important Notice: FrontStreet Coffee has moved to a new address: 315, Donghua East Road, Guangzhou (coffee beans only)
Tel: 020 38364473
