Peru Apex: Omer Helera Microlot

Omer's coffee is being sold in 10 oz bags as part of our Gold Label Apex Series. Only one burlap bag of these green beans was available this year, and we’re excited to have snagged it.

Due to the limited nature of this coffee, it will not be eligible for promotional discounts. Thanks for your support and understanding.

If the Apex Series is a celebration of our Producers’ incredible work to achieve the highest quality coffee, Omer’s Maragogype is the thesis statement of natural process fermentation. Delightfully funky, this medium roast imparts a perfectly balanced epicurean experience that isn't too sweet, isn’t too edgy, and certainly isn’t lacking in flavor. It has a great chocolatey depth of character anchoring it, with a decadent barrage of fresh berry notes and juicy pops of orange livening up the party. It’s delicious and never boring, especially as it cools into a sweet spot of fruity sangria and chocolate covered orange.

Every connoisseur should keep such a statement coffee on hand. It would substitute beautifully as an aperitif paired with cakes, cookies, or pastries; maybe even a breakfast of those things. Who says you can’t enjoy cake in the morning? The bitter edge of coffee helps make such sweetness more palatable when you’re still fending off the lull of sleep, and Omer’s natural Maragogype offers the best of both. Notes of Sangria and Coconut Rum give this roast a sophisticated sense of celebration. And here, we’re celebrating no less than a damn good cup of coffee.

We purchased coffee from Omer for the first time last year. Only one bag was available this year, but we knew we needed to get our hands on it. Having now tasted this fresh crop, our enthusiasm was warranted; Omer’s coffee has stepped up its game. The earthy, berry fruitiness leaves a tangy aftertaste. It’s a funky presence of potent flavors, akin to a kombucha’s lingering aftertaste.

This coffee is a perfect entry point for customers who want something distinctive, grounded, and a little bolder than our usual Apex releases—without stepping outside the bounds of balance and drinkability.

Omer has been a member of Sol y Café since 2010 and has served as an organic promoter since 2021. Based in San José del Alto, he supports 22 other producers as part of the “Familias Unidas Ecopark Café” association, providing technical guidance and sustainable farming support. After inheriting the farm from his father, he fully renovated it in 2019—applying new practices in tree spacing, shade management, and varietal trials, including this standout Maragogype.

About the Maragogype Variety

Maragogype (or Maragogipe) is a natural mutation of Typica, famous for producing unusually large coffee beans, often referred to as “elephant beans.” These massive seeds influence both processing and roasting, requiring lower heat and longer development for optimal results.

While sometimes overlooked for flashier varieties like the Geisha varietal featured in several of our other Peruvian microlots, Maragogype has its own cult following thanks to its low acidity, syrupy body, floral undertones, and molasses-like sweetness. When grown at high elevation and carefully processed, it delivers an unforgettable cup—especially when roasted just right.