Carlos Cardena's Cherry-Dried Gesha from Finca Xilontla is vibrant, sweet, and juicy. From the very first sip, we're greeted by fresh raspberry notes, accompanied by a deeper, silkier, almost syrupy body than you might expect from a Gesha. As the cup cools, complex melon flavors emerge, ranging from vine-ripened watermelon to muskmelon sorbet and sweet Japanese honeydew candies. The cup continues to open up, revealing delicate floral notes of rose blossoms and white flowers, such as jasmine.
We are honored to be working with this incredible coffee from such a passionate and rapidly ascending member of the Mexican coffee community. We proudly feature this exceptional cup as the first release in our Selects series, highlighting some of the most premium coffees in the world.
Family History
Carlos Cardena is quickly becoming one of the most highly awarded coffee producers in Mexico. He is a fifth-generation producer whose great-great-grandfather established the family's first farm in the 1890s. Over the years, the family has gradually expanded its operations by acquiring nearby farms. Today, Carlos and his family own six farms.
Carlos claims that, for him, coffee isn't "work" but a "hobby." That's not to say he doesn't take it seriously. Rather, it's a passion he loves dedicating himself to. When asked, "What do you like to do in your free time?" he responds, "Cupping, and I like to do it every day." While the family has a long history of coffee production, Carlos is the only one still living in Cosautlan, largely because of his love for working in the coffee industry.
Following a severe outbreak of coffee leaf rust in 2013–2014, Carlos's father decided the family needed to move beyond traditional coffee farming methods. He began exploring more scientific approaches with the help of specialists.
Carlos's Story
Carlos's interest in specialty coffee began in 2018 when he learned about producers receiving significantly higher prices for their coffees than the standard market rate. After that, he decided to begin separating their harvest by variety to compare the cupping qualities of each. Around the same time, a customer introduced him to alternative processing methods beyond the traditional washed process the family had always used. Since then, Carlos has continued experimenting to find the ideal processing method for each variety on each farm.
His experimentation has led to tremendous success. In 2023, he took third place in Mexico's Cup of Excellence competition, followed by first place in the 2024 auction's experimental category. He has continued to place in the top ten each year since.
This Cherry-Dried Gesha lot comes from Finca Xilontla, Carlos's newest farm, and represents its fourth harvest. Located at 1,350 meters, the farm spans 85 hectares, only 60 of which are cultivated due to the rugged terrain. Alongside Gesha, the farm also grows Anacafe 14, Marsellesa, Colombia, and Sarchimor. It also has a mixed-variety garden featuring six different varieties, including San Roque, San Isidro, and Java.
