Panama La Esmeralda Estate Single-Origin Coffee: Flavor Characteristics, Growing Region, and Brewing Parameters

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Panama Esmeralda Estate Single Origin Coffee Beans: Flavor Characteristics, Growing Region, and Brewing Parameters

Esmeralda Estate Products Commonly Available in Taiwan:

1. Esmeralda Estate Diamond Mountain Washed (Varieties: Typica, Bourbon, Catuai)

2. Esmeralda Estate Geisha, mainly divided into 3 batches:

• High Altitude (Red Label) batch (competition batch) 1600-1800 meters, cupping score over 90 points
• High Altitude (Green Label) batch: 1600-1800 meters
• Medium-High Altitude (Blue Label) batch: 1500 meters

ESMERALDA SPECIAL Award Records:

• 1st Place Specialty Coffee Association of America Roasters Guild Cupping Pavilion (2007, 2006, 2005)
• 2nd Place Coffee of The Year (2009, 2008)
• 1st Place "Best of Panama" (2010, 2009, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004)
• 1st Place Rainforest Alliance Cupping for Quality (2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2004)

The name "Geisha" is pronounced the same as the Japanese word for geisha, hence it's also called Geisha coffee. Because the tree variety 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, seeking to participate in the annual Panama Best Coffee competition, tested all coffee tree varieties throughout the estate, giving Geisha the opportunity to shine. Since then, it has participated in various world coffee competitions, winning a total of eleven championships.

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

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

Panama Geisha (Hacienda La Esmeralda)

Origin: Panama
Region: Located on the slopes of Baru Volcano, the highest peak in western Panama
Estate: Esmeralda Estate / Hacienda La Esmeralda
Grade: Blue Label
Growing Altitude: 1450m
Processing Method: Fine washed processing
Special Certification: Rainforest Alliance Certified
Roast Level: Light roast (city-)

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 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.

Esmeralda Estate Geisha has 3 brands, divided by altitude:

• Auction Geisha (ESMERALDA SPECIAL) (Red Label), specially selected from above 1550 meters altitude
• Boquete Geisha (Green Label), specially selected Geisha from 1500 meters
• (ESMERALDA 1,500) (Blue Label), specially selected Geisha varieties from around 1500 meters altitude

Manufacturer: Coffee Workshop
Address: No. 10 Bao'an Front Street, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou, FrontStreet Coffee
Manufacturer Contact: 020-38364473
Shelf Life: 90 days
Net Content: 100g
Packaging: Bulk
Origin: Panama

Pour-over Blue Label: 15g coffee, medium-fine grind (Fuji ghost tooth grinder setting 3.5), V60 dripper, 91-93°C water temperature. First pour with 30g water, let bloom for 27 seconds, then pour to 105g and pause. Wait until the water level drops to halfway, then slowly pour until reaching 225g. Discard the tail end. Water-to-coffee ratio 1:15, extraction time 2:00.

Panama Geisha (Hacienda La Esmeralda)

Country: Panama
Grade: Blue Label
Region: Slopes of Baru Mountain
Roast Level: Light roast
Processing Method: Washed
Variety: Geisha
Estate: Esmeralda Estate
Flavor: Oolong tea aroma, peach aroma, honey aroma

Panama · Esmeralda Estate Geisha Coffee Beans

The Geisha variety was discovered in the Geisha forest of Ethiopia in 1931 and then sent to the Kenyan Coffee Research Institute. 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 first brought it from the small town of GESHA in southwestern Ethiopia to Costa Rica. Later, Geisha entered Panama along the southern route, where Panama's Esmeralda Estate separated it from other varieties and won the national coffee championship.

Flavor Description:

Oolong tea aroma, peach aroma, honey aroma - refreshing and comfortable, bright yet balanced. The aromatic layers are extremely strong, with the entire aroma wrapped in caramel sweetness. Upon entry, the tongue notices distinct fruit acidity, which becomes gentle and smooth in the mouth. The fruity sweetness and aftertaste are strong, like drinking a cup of fresh fruit tea that refreshes the heart. The lower the temperature, the more delicate the acidity. The flavor is quite persistent and deeply satisfying!

Esmeralda Estate Introduction:

Price Peterson. The Peterson family purchased a coffee garden in the Jaramillo region north of Boquete in 1996, naming it Pequeña Suecia (Little Sweden) to commemorate their homeland. This coffee garden is located on the eastern side of Volcan Barú, with a cool climate and drifting mountain mist. As Mr. Peterson described, this newly acquired section of Esmeralda Farm has excellent altitude and climate (1450-1700m). The roasted coffee beans emit an extremely elegant citrus fragrance. Interestingly, this old estate contains various coffee tree varieties left by previous owners.

2002 was a turning point for Esmeralda Farm, thanks to Mr. Peterson's younger son - Daniel Peterson. He believed that the coffee produced from both areas of Esmeralda Farm (two major coffee growing regions - the original Esmeralda Estate in southwest Boquete and the newly acquired Jaramillo region in 1996) had always been harvested, mixed, and sold together. Although the overall quality was good, it wasn't necessarily uniform in quality and flavor. That extremely elegant citrus fruit aroma and sweetness should come from certain exceptional coffee trees within the farm. He began conducting cupping evaluations of each growing block individually, finally discovering in the higher altitude valleys of the Jaramillo garden that these tall, low-yielding coffee trees produced coffee with exceptional cupping flavor. After several inquiries, they learned that these varieties, which thrive in high-altitude, cool temperatures, were the later-famous GEISHA. In 2004, Esmeralda Estate participated in the Best of Panama-BOP cupping competition with these special coffees. Geisha's unique aroma and rich mouthfeel amazed the judges, winning the "Best of Panama" championship and setting a historical record of USD $21 per pound at that year's auction! This competition brought Esmeralda Estate's Geisha coffee significant attention in the specialty coffee world! They continued to win BOP championships in 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, and 2010.

Hacienda La Esmeralda has become the coffee estate with the highest award-winning rate globally.

About Hacienda La Esmeralda

The old Esmeralda Estate is located in Palmira, Boquete, built by Swedish immigrant Hans Elliot. In November 1967, it was purchased by Rudolph A. Peterson as a dairy ranch. In 1973, it was taken over by Price Peterson, the elder Rudolph's son. Price Peterson was born in 1936 and grew up in America, earning a Ph.D. in Neurochemistry from U. Penn. In 1973, he moved to Boquete's Esmeralda Estate with his wife Susan Duff and their two children, Erik and Rachel. Daniel, their second son, was born here in 1974. Although the farm was primarily operated as a dairy under the Peterson family's management, the original old coffee garden always existed. After 1987, it gradually transitioned to a coffee estate, and in 1994, they established their own coffee processing and washing plant to handle the harvested coffee cherries. In addition to Geisha, the estate also grows Typica, Caturra, Catuai, and Bourbon varieties.

Panama

Population: 3,406,000

Panama's coffee regions are defined by how coffee is produced rather than by geographical divisions. Previously, when coffee was more widely cultivated and the regions listed below were smaller and more clustered, their coffee beans could be combined as a single unit.

BOQUETE

The Boquete region is the most famous coffee-producing area in Panama. Its mountainous terrain creates many microclimates. The relatively cool weather and frequent fog help slow the maturation of coffee cherries, which some believe is similar to high-altitude climates.

Altitude: 400-1,900m
Harvest: December - March
Varieties: Typica, Caturra, Catuai, Bourbon, Geisha, San Ramon

VOLCAN-CANDELA

The Piedra Candela volcano region produces most of Panama's food and some amazing coffees. The region is named after Baru Volcano and the city of Piedra Candela and borders Costa Rica.

Altitude: 1,200-1,600m
Harvest: December - March
Varieties: Typica, Caturra, Catuai, Bourbon, Geisha, San Ramon

RENACIMIENTO

Renacimiento is a coffee-producing region in Chiriquí province that borders Costa Rica. The region itself is quite small, so it's not one of Panama's main specialty coffee regions.

Altitude: 1,100-1,500m
Harvest: December - March
Varieties: Typica, Caturra, Catuai, Bourbon, Geisha, San Ramon

Introduction:

In November 1967, Rudolph A. Peterson (1904-2003), a Swedish-American born in California and president of Bank of America, purchased Esmeralda Estate (Hacienda La Esmeralda) from Hans Elliot, a Swedish immigrant who had built the estate, as his retirement home. Esmeralda Estate is a historic estate located in the small coffee farming area of Palmira in the Boquete region.

In 1973, Price Peterson, the elder Rudolph's son, took over management. Price Peterson was born in 1936, grew up and studied in America, earning a Ph.D. in Neurochemistry from the University of Pennsylvania. In 1973, he moved to his hometown Boquete's Esmeralda Estate with his wife Susan Duff and their two children, Erik and Rachel. The elder Rudolph's second son, Daniel Peterson, was born here in 1974. Although the farm was primarily operated as a dairy under the Peterson family's management, the original old coffee garden always existed. After 1987, it gradually transitioned to a coffee estate, and in 1994, they established their own coffee processing and washing plant to handle the harvested coffee cherries. In addition to Geisha, the estate also grows Typica, Caturra, Catuai, and Bourbon varieties.

2002 was a turning point for Esmeralda Farm, thanks to Mr. Peterson's younger son - Daniel Peterson. He believed that the coffee produced from both areas of Esmeralda Farm (two major coffee growing regions - the original Esmeralda Estate in southwest Boquete and the newly acquired Jaramillo region in 1996) had always been harvested, mixed, and sold together. Although the overall quality was good, it wasn't necessarily uniform in quality and flavor. The unique, elegant citrus fruit aroma and sweetness should come from a specific block within the farm. He began conducting cupping evaluations of each growing block individually, finally discovering in the higher altitude valleys of the Jaramillo garden that the cupping flavor was exceptional. In 2004, Esmeralda Estate participated in the Best of Panama-BOP cupping competition with these special coffees. Geisha's unique aroma and rich mouthfeel amazed the judges, winning the "Best of Panama" championship and setting a historical record of USD $21 per pound at that year's auction! This competition brought Esmeralda Estate's Geisha coffee significant attention in the specialty coffee world! They continued to win BOP championships in subsequent years.

After the Peterson family took over this farm, they purchased and added 60 hectares of the Jaramillo growing area, some of which was previously used for dairy farming. After several major renovations of the entire farm, many blocks that were later dedicated to coffee cultivation slowly began to bear fruit in 2003-2004. In 2002, Daniel Peterson, the Peterson family's son, proposed a new idea, believing that not all coffee-growing regions would produce similar good flavors, but that several specific blocks had more distinctive flavors. He began cupping the entire estate's coffee beans. Finally, in a small valley block at the estate's highest altitude, he found this special coffee flavor - the coffee beans that sell for the highest price at Esmeralda Estate: "Esmeralda Special." The coffee beans from other blocks are also of very good quality, but not as stunningly remarkable as "Esmeralda Special." We understand that "Esmeralda Special" requires many factors to combine to produce small-batch, top-tier specialty coffee, and of course, the quantity represents a very small percentage of this estate.

Esmeralda Estate (Hacienda La Esmeralda) Profile

Esmeralda Estate (Hacienda La Esmeralda) is located in the Baru Volcano mountain range of the Boquete region in western Panama. The estate's coffee fruits grow in the fertile volcanic soil and cool climate of the Boquete region.

Panama is near the equator with a tropical climate, but the Boquete region, due to its high altitude and the local topography and microclimate of Esmeralda Estate, experiences significant temperature differences. The mornings and evenings at the estate are quite cold. Their carefully tended coffee gardens are half located within forest reserves or national park areas. They are firmly committed to implementing sustainable agricultural practices and social responsibility. Due to their dedication to and special care for the natural environment, all of Esmeralda Estate's coffee is Rainforest Alliance Certified (RFA).

The Geisha variety was first discovered at Esmeralda Estate in 2003. Esmeralda Estate is currently managed jointly by third-generation Rachel and Daniel. Daniel is the discoverer who made the Geisha variety popular worldwide. Daniel and his sister Rachel conduct batch cupping and record each batch of harvested coffee cherries, analyzing the flavor differences between different growing areas and batches. One day, Daniel noticed that a particular batch of coffee had the estate's characteristic floral aroma and a brighter, richer mouthfeel. After individual inspection, he finally discovered that the unique aroma and flavor came from the Geisha variety, opening the colorful chapter of Geisha varieties and marking the beginning of Esmeralda Estate's journey to becoming a world-class star estate.

In Taiwan and globally, the Geisha variety has undoubtedly become synonymous with top-flavor specialty coffee. Good Geisha beans possess distinct "flavor characteristics" - it carries exotic floral aromas like jasmine, peach, and orange, with obvious and delicate aroma, and is considered one of the best coffees in the world.

To this day, in the world of specialty coffee, everyone knows that Geisha originated from Esmeralda Estate. Because of the Geisha variety, Esmeralda Estate has won countless first-place awards, including the following:

Awards

Since 2004, Hacienda La Esmeralda has gone on to win a great number of major coffee industry awards and to set several online coffee auction price records.

1ST PLACE RECORD

Each year around June is Esmeralda Estate's independent auction time (only auctioning Geisha varieties) (one of the few estates in the world that allows public online bidding). This year, as usual, overall prices generally increased (http://auction.stoneworks.com/ES2016/final_results.php), with Taiwan successfully bidding on many batches - truly impressive!

Important Notice :

前街咖啡 FrontStreet Coffee has moved to new addredd:

FrontStreet Coffee Address: 315,Donghua East Road,GuangZhou

Tel:020 38364473