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The Origin of Panama Geisha Blue Label Coffee and How Its Grades Are Classified

Published: 2026-01-27 Author: FrontStreet Coffee

Last Updated: 2026/01/27, Professional barista exchange. Please follow Coffee Workshop (WeChat official account cafe_style). So what is the Panama 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 P

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What is the Panama Auction?

In 1996, during the lowest period of international coffee prices, seven coffee estates located 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 in the BOP washed Geisha category exceeded $160 per pound, while the highest bid in the natural Geisha category 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 three brands, classified by altitude:

Auction Geisha (ESMERALDA SPECIAL) (Red Label): Selected from altitudes above 1550 meters.

Boquete Geisha (Green Label): Selected Geisha from 1500 meters altitude.

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

Brewing Method

Hand-poured Blue Label. 15g of coffee, ground to medium-fine consistency (Fuji ghost tooth grinder setting 3.5), V60 dripper, water temperature 91-93°C. First pour 30g of water for a 27-second bloom, then pour to 105g and pause. Wait until the water level drops halfway, then slowly pour until reaching 225g. Avoid the tail section. Water-to-coffee ratio 1:15, extraction time 2:00.

Coffee Information

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 aroma, peach fragrance, honey sweetness

Panama Geisha Coffee Beans from Hacienda La Esmeralda

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. Geisha didn't receive much attention until one day when Don Pachi initially brought it from the small town of GESHA in southwestern Ethiopia to Costa Rica. Afterwards, Geisha traveled along the southern route into Panama, where Hacienda La Esmeralda separated it from other varieties and won the national coffee championship.

Flavor Description

Oolong tea aroma, peach fragrance, and honey sweetness create a refreshing and comfortable experience, bright yet balanced. The layered aroma is extremely rich, with the entire fragrance wrapped in caramel sweetness. Upon entry, the tongue perceives distinct fruit acidity, which becomes gentle and rounded in the mouth. The fruit sweetness and aftertaste are intense, like drinking fresh fruit tea - clear and refreshing. As the temperature decreases, the acidity becomes more delicate. The flavor is remarkably long-lasting, leaving one feeling completely satisfied!

Geisha is pronounced the same as the Japanese word for geisha, hence it's also known as Geisha coffee. Because the coffee trees are taller than typical coffee varieties, they were originally planted in a small area of the estate and used as windbreaks. The estate owner's son, seeking to participate in the annual Best of Panama competition, tested all coffee varieties in the estate, giving Geisha its opportunity to shine. Subsequently, it participated in various world coffee competitions, winning a total of eleven championships.

Geisha possesses rich sweetness, an extremely clean mouthfeel, and abundant flavors that range from berries and citrus to mango, papaya, and peach. A very distinct bergamot-like aftertaste is also its typical cupping characteristic. To date, Geisha has remained the champion among coffee varieties.

Panama is one of the most important regions on the world coffee map. The auction beans from here fetch prices of over a hundred US dollars annually.