Geisha Coffee Bean Variety Story: Is It Worth Trying? What Grade, Flavor, and Taste Characteristics Define Las Rocas Volcanic Rock New Blue Label Geisha

At FrontStreet Coffee, the Geisha variety always captures customers' attention. Many newcomers to the world of coffee learn about this bean's reputation before tasting it, sitting at the bar and pulling FrontStreet Coffee's baristas aside to learn about the characteristics of Geisha beans. FrontStreet Coffee's baristas patiently answer every customer's questions. FrontStreet Coffee offers multiple Geisha coffee beans from Ethiopia, Panama, and Costa Rica. Geisha grown in different regions each has unique flavors, but the floral characteristic of Geisha is always present regardless of where it's grown. With the development of specialty coffee, more and more Geisha coffee beans with different processing methods have emerged. This time, FrontStreet Coffee will focus on the differences between two traditional processing methods for Geisha coffee beans: natural and washed.

The Origin and Discovery of Geisha

The Geisha variety was discovered in 1931 in the Geisha forest of Ethiopia. Afterwards, Geisha was sent to the Coffee Research Institute in Kenya. In 1936, it was introduced to Uganda and Tanzania. In 1953, it was introduced to Costa Rica. In 1963, Don Pachi Serracin introduced Geisha coffee trees from Costa Rica to Panama. However, due to low yields directly affecting harvest volume and fragile branches requiring extra careful attention, coffee farmers were not enthusiastic about planting it.

Initially, not many people paid attention to Geisha until Panama's Hacienda La Esmeralda. To improve coffee quality, Hacienda La Esmeralda tasted, compared, and recorded the differences between hundreds of coffee varieties. Until 2003, they accidentally discovered that the coffee beans produced by Geisha coffee trees in their own coffee plantation had such extraordinary flavors—this coffee bean actually had the characteristic citrus and floral aromas of African beans, completely different from the "nutty, caramel, chocolate" flavors of Central American coffee at that time. Two weeks before the 2004 BOP competition, the plantation owner Daniel selected batches to participate in the competition. Later, this previously unknown Geisha coffee bean surprisingly won the BOP competition championship. Only then did the Geisha variety truly enter everyone's spotlight. Although Geisha variety flavors are exquisite, such elegant flavors come from specific growing environments.

Geisha's Growing Requirements

The Geisha variety is quite particular about its growing environment, requiring cultivation in high-altitude areas with cloud/mist shade or extensive shade tree coverage, and fertile soil. High-altitude Geisha variety coffee has distinct floral aromas and refined, elegant fruit acidity. Such elegant flavors are one of the reasons for its global popularity. In the eyes of specialty coffee enthusiasts worldwide today, Geisha coffee beans are undoubtedly the supreme treasure.

FrontStreet Coffee often encounters customers asking why higher altitude means better coffee quality. Looking at Geisha coffee beans provides the answer. Geisha is particularly picky about growing conditions, requiring high altitude, and the higher the altitude, the better the quality. FrontStreet Coffee displays several grades of Panama Geisha coffee, with Red Label being the highest grade and also from the highest altitude. FrontStreet Coffee will explain Hacienda La Esmeralda's grade classification in detail below, so please continue reading.

Panama Hacienda La Esmeralda's Territorial Division

Hacienda La Esmeralda is located in the Boquete region of Panama, an important coffee-producing area where many well-known coffee plantations are located, such as Elida Estate and Kotowa Estate.

Hacienda La Esmeralda's division of Geisha plots is extremely precise, mainly comprising three plots: Jaramillo, Cañas Verdes, and El Velo. Each plot is further subdivided into smaller plots. High-quality Geisha mainly comes from the Jaramillo and Cañas Verdes plots.

Jaramillo has an annual rainfall of 4000ml, with average daytime temperatures between 19-25°C and nighttime temperatures between 11-15°C, at an average altitude of 1600-1700m. The Jaramillo plot is subdivided into 5 small plots: Mario, Noria, Reina, Bosque, and Buenos Aires.

Cañas Verdes has an annual rainfall of 3500ml, with average daytime temperatures between 16-23°C and nighttime temperatures between 10-15°C, at an average altitude of 1600-1800m. Cañas includes plots such as Nido, Tumaco, Cabana, Leon, Montana, Fundador, Lino, Coronado, Chinta, Trapiche, and Colga.

El Velo is Hacienda La Esmeralda's newest acquisition, with an average altitude of 1700-1900m. In addition to Geisha and Catuai, this plot also has small quantities of other exotic varieties such as Laurina, Pacamara, Moka, and SL28. El Velo's plots include: Guabo, Aguila, Higo, Buena Vista, Mural, Durazno, Porton, and Ethiopian Accession Garden.

Hacienda La Esmeralda's Geisha Classification

Panama's Hacienda La Esmeralda Geisha coffee beans are divided into 3 grades: Special Selection (Red Label), Private Collection (Green Label), and Geisha 1500 (Blue Label).

FrontStreet Coffee · Panama Hacienda La Esmeralda Red Label Geisha

Esmeralda Special Selection Geisha is what we commonly call Red Label. It selects Geisha beans grown at altitudes of 1600-1800 meters, with cupping scores above 90 points, from the Jaramillo and Cañas Verdes regions. The independent auctions held by Hacienda La Esmeralda feature Geisha batches selected from designated plots for auction—these are the auction Red Labels. However, there are also non-auction Red Labels on the market today. These are actually Geisha beans selected from the same plots but not submitted for auction, then circulated in the market. The variety quality is consistent, but prices show differences. This grade of Geisha uses natural or washed processing methods, with flavors featuring special, bright floral and citrus aromas.

Hacienda La Esmeralda and Geisha coffee beans became world-famous in 2004, and the Geisha batch sent to participate in the BOP competition that year was produced at the Jaramillo farm—the Geisha coffee flavor from this plot is evident. FrontStreet Coffee's bean shelf still offers a Red Label Geisha from the same farm as the 2004 BOP competition champion Geisha bean.

The FrontStreet Coffee Panama Hacienda La Esmeralda Red Label Geisha that FrontStreet Coffee obtained uses natural processing. When brewed, it presents bright rose and citrus aromas, brown rice, berries, apricots, complex fruits, and honey, with a thick juiciness and rich flavor layers, with noticeable sweetness. If you want to taste typical Geisha flavors, natural-processed Geisha makes the coffee flavor more intense, with richer and more complex layers, and a qualitative improvement in acidity, sweetness, and aroma. As the most iconic Geisha coffee from Hacienda La Esmeralda, the natural processing method allows FrontStreet Coffee's Esmeralda Geisha flavors to be fully expressed.

How FrontStreet Coffee Roasts FrontStreet Coffee's Esmeralda Red Label Geisha Coffee Beans?

Yangjia 800N, 380g batch size: Enter at 150°C, heat at 120, damper open at 3; Return to temperature at 1'36", when drum temperature reaches 140°C, open damper to 4, heat unchanged; At 147.6°C, bean surface turns yellow, grassy aroma completely disappears, entering dehydration stage. When drum temperature reaches 150°C, adjust heat to 100, damper unchanged; At 7'38", bean surface shows ugly wrinkles and black spots, toast aroma clearly changes to coffee aroma, which can be defined as the prelude to first crack. At this time, listen carefully for the first crack sound. At 8'10", first crack begins, open damper to 4, develop for 1'28" after first crack, discharge at 189.5°C.

FrontStreet Coffee · Panama Hacienda La Esmeralda Green Label Geisha

Private Collection, commonly known as Green Label, consists of non-competition batches—Geisha varieties that don't participate in auctions but still have excellent quality. It selects Geisha beans grown at altitudes of 1600-1800 meters from different plots including Jaramillo, Cañas Verdes, and others. Since it uses a mixed bean model without detailed plot specifications, sometimes Green Label and Red Label flavors can be very similar, but the next batch might differ. Although Green Label doesn't reach Red Label's level, it still maintains Geisha's classic flavors: floral, fruit, citrus acidity, and thick, juicy texture.

Green Label Geisha also comes in both washed and natural processing. The FrontStreet Coffee Esmeralda Green Label that FrontStreet Coffee obtained uses washed processing. When brewed, it presents rich jasmine floral aroma, high sweetness, citrus, berries, juiciness, cream, green tea, orange peel, and cantaloupe, with overall rich flavor layers and persistent floral and citrus aftertaste.

The washed FrontStreet Coffee Esmeralda Green Label Geisha represents Hacienda La Esmeralda's fresh and light style, with a cleaner taste that showcases Hacienda La Esmeralda's original terroir. It's also the most cost-effective Geisha from Hacienda La Esmeralda.

How FrontStreet Coffee Roasts FrontStreet Coffee's Esmeralda Green Label Geisha Coffee Beans?

Yangjia 800N, 500g batch size: Enter at 190°C, heat at 150, damper open at 3; Return to temperature at 1'36", when drum temperature reaches 140°C, open damper to 4, heat reduced to 130; At 150.8°C, bean surface turns yellow, grassy aroma completely disappears, entering dehydration stage. When drum temperature reaches 166°C, adjust heat to 110, damper unchanged; At 7'55", at 176 degrees, adjust heat to 90; Bean surface shows ugly wrinkles and black spots, toast aroma clearly changes to coffee aroma, which can be defined as the prelude to first crack. At this time, listen carefully for the first crack sound. At 8'30", first crack begins, open damper to 5, at 187 degrees adjust heat to 60; develop for 1'30" after first crack, discharge at 193.5°C.

FrontStreet Coffee · Panama Hacienda La Esmeralda Blue Label Geisha

The Geisha 1500 brand is what we commonly know as Blue Label Geisha. It selects mixed beans from altitudes of 1400-1500 meters from three different plots: Jaramillo, Cañas Verdes, and El Velo. The flavor features light floral notes, fruit acidity, and sweetness, with a less thick texture. In previous years, Blue Label Geisha only had washed processing, but this year's Blue Label batch has added natural processing.

The FrontStreet Coffee Esmeralda washed Blue Label that FrontStreet Coffee obtained has light floral aroma when brewed, with gentle lemon and grapefruit acidity on entry, honey sweetness in the middle section, and oolong tea tea-like feeling and brown sugar sweetness in the finish, with a relatively clean and bright texture. FrontStreet Coffee's Esmeralda natural Blue Label has fermented aroma and fruit sweetness when smelled after brewing, tasting like melon and tropical fruits with juice-like texture and overall very high sweetness.

In 2021, news came that Hacienda La Esmeralda would discontinue the Blue Label brand. In the same year, a Geisha coffee bean from the same region called "Volcanic Rock" appeared. After FrontStreet Coffee's verification, the Volcanic Rock Geisha was processed by Hacienda La Esmeralda, and its flavor was highly similar to previous years' Blue Label Geisha. (Currently, this brand has also been discontinued)

How FrontStreet Coffee Roasts FrontStreet Coffee's Esmeralda Washed Blue Label Geisha Coffee Beans?

Yangjia 800N, 480g batch size: Enter at 180°C, heat at 130, damper open at 3; Return to temperature at 1'32", when drum temperature reaches 130°C, open damper to 4, heat unchanged; At 151.6°C, bean surface turns yellow, grassy aroma completely disappears, entering dehydration stage. At 7'56", bean surface shows ugly wrinkles and black spots, toast aroma clearly changes to coffee aroma, which can be defined as the prelude to first crack. At this time, listen carefully for the first crack sound. At 8'30", first crack begins, open damper to 5, develop for 1'28" after first crack, discharge at 190°C.

FrontStreet Coffee · Panama Las Rocas Volcanic Rock Geisha Coffee Beans

Las Rocas Volcanic Rock Geisha is a new brand Geisha coffee bean from the 2021 new harvest season. In fact, it comes from the renowned Hacienda La Esmeralda, grown at around 1500 meters altitude using washed processing. Careful observers might notice that this coffee bean's information is identical to the Blue Label Geisha—no doubt, this is the original Blue Label Geisha. In 2021, Hacienda La Esmeralda didn't release new harvest season Blue Label Geisha information, precisely because the original Blue Label batches were "domestically sold" to a certain green bean company. This brand is truly this company's new brand. Unsurprisingly, this batch of coffee's flavor is identical to the previous washed Blue Label Geisha.

Ethiopia Gesha Village Geisha Coffee

Panama and Ethiopia are separated by mountains and seas. We can know that Panama's coffee also went through several twists and turns before taking root there. Ethiopia is the origin of coffee, and it's said that Ethiopia is Geisha's native land. In the last century, Geisha seeds were brought out from the depths of local primary forests, made their way to Panama, and only in 2000 became a coffee that amazed the world.

Gesha Village Estate is located in western Ethiopia's Bench Maji region, surrounded by dense jungle. The location of Gesha Village has beautiful scenery and pleasant climate. From high points, one can overlook ancient and vast forests. The estate owners Adam and Rachel searched for three years to find a suitable estate. Under local guidance, they went to Geisha's native homeland forest. It's a two-day journey from the capital Addis Ababa.

Gesha Village Estate has a strict internal grading system: Auction, Gold Label, Red Label, Green Label, and Chaka batches.

FrontStreet Coffee's bean list offers four coffee beans from Gesha Village: FrontStreet Coffee Gesha Village Gold Label, FrontStreet Coffee Gesha Village Red Label, FrontStreet Coffee Gesha Village Green Label, and FrontStreet Coffee Gesha Village Chaka. It's important to note that the coffee bean varieties from Gesha Village are not consistent with the Geisha coffee varieties we commonly discuss. If you want to taste Geisha coffee flavors, you still need Panama-produced Geisha coffee beans. Of course, coffee beans from each producing region and each variety have their own unique characteristics; otherwise, FrontStreet Coffee's bean list wouldn't be so extensive.

How FrontStreet Coffee Brews FrontStreet Coffee Geisha Coffee?

FrontStreet Coffee recommends using freshly roasted coffee beans for brewing to maximize the experience of rich coffee flavors. The coffee beans shipped by FrontStreet Coffee are roasted within 5 days because FrontStreet Coffee knows well that freshness greatly affects flavor. FrontStreet Coffee's roasting philosophy is "Freshly Roasted Good Coffee," ensuring every customer who places an order receives the freshest coffee when it arrives. The coffee's resting period is about 4-7 days, so when customers receive it, it's at peak flavor.

• Water Temperature: 91°C
• Grind Size: Fine sugar (Chinese standard #20 sieve 80% pass rate)
• Coffee-to-Water Ratio: 1:15
• Coffee Amount: 15 grams

FrontStreet Coffee's Brewing Method:

First segment: Pour 30g of water for 30-second bloom, then pour 95g (scale shows around 125g), completing in about 1 minute. When the water level drops to 2/3 of the coffee bed, pour the remaining 100g (scale shows around 225g), completing in about 1 minute 40 seconds. Complete drip filtration between 1'55''-2'10'', remove the filter cone, and complete extraction.

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