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Panama Esmeralda Estate Geisha Blue Label Washed Specialty Coffee Beans: Grind Size, Roast Level & Processing Method Guide

Published: 2026-01-28 Author: FrontStreet Coffee

Last Updated: 2026/01/28, Panama Geisha (Hacienda La Esmeralda) Country: Panama Grade: Blue Label Region: Slopes of Baru Volcano Roast Level: Light Roast Processing Method: Washed Variety: Geisha Estate: Hacienda La Esmeralda Flavor Notes: Oolong Tea, White Peach, Honey Panama Esmeralda Estate Geisha Coffee Beans Panama Geisha (Hacienda La Esmeralda)

Panama Geisha (Hacienda La Esmeralda)

Country: Panama

Grade: Blue Label

Region: Slopes of Baru Volcano

Roast Level: Light Roast

Processing Method: Washed

Variety: Geisha

Estate: Hacienda La Esmeralda

Flavor Notes: Oolong tea fragrance, peach aroma, honey sweetness

Panama Geisha Coffee Beans

Panama Geisha (Hacienda La Esmeralda)

Origin: Panama

Region: Located on the slopes of Baru Volcano, the highest peak in western Panama

Estate: Hacienda La Esmeralda

Grade: Blue Label

Growing Altitude: 1450m

Processing Method: Fine Washed Process

Special Certification: Rainforest Alliance Certified

Roast Level: Light Roast City-

What is the Panama Coffee Auction?

In 1996, during the lowest period of international coffee prices, seven coffee estates in the Boquete and Volcan regions saw the dawn of the specialty coffee era. They organized and established the famous Panamanian Association of Special Coffees of Panama (SCAP). In 2013, the highest bid for washed Geisha in the BOP exceeded $160 per pound, while the highest bid for natural Geisha was won by a natural Geisha from Hacienda La Esmeralda at over $350 per pound.

Hacienda La Esmeralda Geisha Brands

Hacienda La Esmeralda Geisha has 3 brands, classified by altitude:

Auction Geisha (ESMERALDA SPECIAL) (Red Label), selected from altitudes above 1550 meters.

Boquete Geisha (Green Label), selected from 1500 meters.

(ESMERALDA 1,500) (Blue Label), selected from Geisha varieties at around 1500 meters altitude.

The History of Geisha

The Geisha variety was discovered in the Geisha forest of Ethiopia in 1931 and then sent to the Coffee Research Institute in Kenya. In 1936, it was introduced to Uganda and Tanzania, and in 1953, Costa Rica imported it. For a long time, not many people paid attention to Geisha until one day, Don Pachi initially brought it from the small town of GESHA in southwestern Ethiopia to Costa Rica. Later, Geisha entered Panama along the southern route. Hacienda La Esmeralda in Panama separated it from other varieties and won the national coffee competition championship.

Geisha has rich sweetness, an extremely clean cup profile, and rich aromas that extend from berries and citrus to mango, papaya, and peach. A very distinct bergamot-like aftertaste is also its typical cupping attribute. To date, Geisha has remained the champion among coffee varieties.

Panama is the most important region on the world coffee map. Coffee beans from here's annual auctions command high prices of hundreds of dollars.

Geisha is pronounced similarly to the Japanese word "Geisha," hence it's also known as Geisha coffee. Because the tree is taller than typical coffee trees, it was originally planted in a small area within the estate and used as a windbreak. The estate owner's son, wanting to participate in the annual Best of Panama coffee competition, searched through all coffee varieties in the estate for testing, giving Geisha the opportunity to shine. Later, it participated in various world coffee competitions, winning a total of eleven championships.

Flavor Profile

Flavor Notes: Oolong tea fragrance, peach aroma, honey sweetness, fresh and comfortable, bright yet balanced, with extremely strong aromatic layers. The entire aroma is wrapped together with caramel sweetness. Upon entry, the tongue feels distinct fruit acidity, which is gentle and rounded in the mouth. The fruity sweetness and aftertaste are strong, like swallowing a mouthful of fresh fruit tea, refreshing and satisfying. The lower the temperature, the more delicate the acidity. The flavor is quite long-lasting, making one feel very satisfied!