Dec. 16, 2022

This paid piece is sponsored by Vanguard Hospitality.

If there’s a coffee lover in your life – or in your mirror – this is an indulgence that shouldn’t be missed.

“There’s no reason a cup of coffee can’t be compared to a glass of outstanding wine or spirits,” said Tim Meagher, chief operating officer of Vanguard Hospitality, owner of Morrie’s Steakhouse, Minervas in downtown Sioux Falls and Grille 26.

“It’s just much harder to source coffee beans that deliver that kind of amazing experience. But thanks to our partnerships locally and globally, that’s what we’re able to do.”

Just in time for your Christmas list – or a treat to yourself – Morrie’s Steakhouse has a limited supply of Geisha coffee beans for sale.

“There are fewer than 50 bags, and that’s the most we’re able to roast,” Meagher said. “Once you try it, you’ll understand why it’s so special.”

The Geisha coffee offered at Morrie’s starts at Retiro Farm in Guatemala, where Fernando Diaz and his family have spent decades farming.

“My mother was born on a coffee plantation, and my father bought this land 40 years ago,” he said earlier this week from Guatemala. “Coffee has been in the family since our beginnings.”

Geisha beans “are low or medium yield,” he explained. “So we have to continuously work their pruning so they keep their production as good as we want.”

Both the nutrition and the plant contribute to the quality of the coffee, he added.

“That gives us one of the best profiles for coffee – floral notes, apricot, you can taste cherries.”

Diaz has worked with Sioux Falls-based Coffea Roasterie for several years. Now, thanks to Coffea’s relationship with Vanguard Hospitality, customers can buy Geisha coffee by the bag at Morrie’s Steakhouse and enjoy Retiro Farm’s coffee by the cup at all Vanguard restaurants.

“Geisha is special for many reasons,” Coffea wholesale director Dan Sinkgraven said.

“It’s prized around the world for its complexity, uniqueness, pillowy-soft tasting notes. So this year, we get to offer it in collaboration with Vanguard as a special offering on their shelves.”

Geisha also is “a risk for a producer to be planting and cultivating in general,” he added. “They’re less disease-resistant, lower yields, and they just take a lot of work. There’s an immense effort that goes into it. But it tastes phenomenal, and Fernando is relentlessly dedicated to quality.”

For Diaz, “this is the only way to sustain a farm – a direct relationship,” he said. “And now that Vanguard has been added to the group of customers, it just brings us more happiness and more joy to continue working on the farm.”

An 8-ounce bag of Geisha coffee is $45, while supplies last. Morrie’s also is selling a 12-ounce bag of coffee from the Diaz family’s Retiro Farm for $25. A portion of the sales price for both will be donated to the work of Friends of the Big Sioux River.

“Respect for the environment is a huge shared value among the partners in this relationship, as is sustainability and giving back,” Meagher said. “And this is just the start. We plan to continue offering Geisha coffees as we have them available and look forward to sharing this incredible coffee experience with our guests.”

Guests can purchase the Geisha coffee by the bag at Morrie’s Steakhouse during normal business hours, as well as from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. every day except Sunday through Dec. 23.