Meticulously grown gesha process with Pepe's iconic Wave Washed technology for a gesha experience- lime, honey, and jasmine. 

Producer: José Ignacio "Pepe" Jijon
Variety: Gesha
Process: Wave Washed
Elevation: 1,515 meters above sea level
Farm: Finca Soledad
Origin: Imbabura, Ecuador

José Ignacio "Pepe" Jijon's journey from conquering Mount Everest to cultivating exceptional coffee embodies the same spirit of adventure and dedication to excellence. As the first South American to complete the Seven Summits challenge in the early 2000s, Pepe's extraordinary feat was more than personal achievement – it was a tribute to his beloved Ecuador and an inspiration to its youth.

Today, Pepe channels that same pioneering spirit into Finca Soledad, his artisanal coffee farm nestled in the remote Intag Valley of Imbabura. For the past 15 years, this visionary first-generation specialty coffee producer has devoted himself to crafting what he calls "irreplicable expressions of time and space" – coffees that capture the pure essence of Ecuador's unique terroir.

The farm focuses exclusively on rare varieties indigenous to Ecuador – Typica Mejorado and Sidra – alongside carefully acclimatized Gesha. Each variety is cultivated and processed with the same precision and respect for nature that guided Pepe's mountaineering expeditions. Despite the challenges facing Ecuador's agricultural sector, Pepe's humility, vision, and determination have earned him deep respect in the specialty coffee community.

At 1,515 meters above sea level, Finca Soledad's unique microclimate, characterized by lower temperatures and nutrient-rich soil, creates the perfect environment for cultivating the prestigious Gesha variety. Jijon has revolutionized coffee processing by developing the innovative "wave washed" technique, which maintains the coffee cherry's vitality through carefully controlled temperature fluctuations over a three-day fermentation period. This method preserves the coffee's vibrant characteristics while minimizing unwanted fermentation flavors.

At Finca Soledad, every bean tells a story of environmental stewardship, human perseverance, and the quest for coffee excellence – proving that sometimes the most remarkable journeys lead us back home. We are deeply fond with the love Pepe not only puts into the beautiful coffee he cultivates, but with the community he shares it with. We are more than honored to continue to spread Pepe's story, love, but most importantly, his coffee, with curious minds like you.