What is
Panama Geisha

Geisha Coffee The World’s Finest
Specialty Coffee

Since the "rediscovery" of the Geisha coffee variety in 2003, the popularity and demand for Panamanian specialty coffee have continued to rise. In 2004, the highest-grade Geisha coffee sold for $20 per pound ($44 per kilogram), but today, it has reached an astounding $4,100 per kilogram. Panama Geisha is now considered the most valuable coffee in the world. Each year, Panama hosts the "Best of Panama" coffee competition, where expert graders from around the globe evaluate top lots from participating farms, setting new records in both quality scores and auction prices.

What is Geisha Coffee? The Miracle Coffee with the Most Vivid Flavors

Geisha coffee is a rare variety that has revolutionized the coffee world due to its unparalleled vibrancy and intense flavor profile. Originally discovered in the Gesha village of southwestern Ethiopia, it made its way to Costa Rica and then to Panama, where it gained international recognition. The Geisha tree grows tall with long, elegant leaves, and its cherries and seeds are noticeably elongated compared to other coffee varieties. The highest-quality Geisha is harvested at high altitudes.
Its flavor profile includes bright notes of berries, citrus, mango, papaya, and peach, with a lingering finish reminiscent of bergamot. It is widely regarded as the "champion" among coffee varieties.

The History of Geisha Coffee A Revolutionary Discovery Born from Serendipity

The history of Geisha coffee is relatively short. It was first identified in 1931 in the Gesha region of southwestern Ethiopia. The name "Geisha" has no connection to the Japanese term "Geisha" but is instead a variation of its original Ethiopian name, "Gesha." The beans were transported from Kenya through Tanzania, eventually reaching the Central American Agricultural Research Institute (CATIE) in Costa Rica in 1953. In the mid-1960s, Geisha was introduced to Panamanian farms, but due to its slow growth and low yield per tree—less than half that of other Arabica varieties—it was deemed unprofitable and largely abandoned.

However, in the early 2000s, a segregated Geisha lot at the Esmeralda Farm in Boquete produced unusually large, deep-red cherries. When entered into the 2004 coffee auction, its unprecedented quality and flavor profile astonished evaluators, fetching a record price ten times higher than standard coffee. This event catapulted Geisha into global fame, and its scarcity made it highly sought after. Since then, Geisha coffee has consistently been ranked among the world’s best, with auction prices increasing each year. In 2017, an Esmeralda Geisha lot sold for $1,322 per kilogram, followed by a 2018 record of $1,766 per kilogram from Elida Lamastus Farm. In 2019, Elida Lamastus broke another record, with Geisha selling for $1,029 per pound (over $20,000 per kilogram). Today, many farms in Panama cultivate Geisha, each producing unique interpretations of this extraordinary coffee, beloved by enthusiasts worldwide.