How are Geisha Coffee Beans Classified and How to Brew Different Processing Methods for the Best Taste?

What is Geisha Coffee?

Everyone talks about Geisha coffee, but do you know what Geisha coffee actually is? FrontStreet Coffee wants to tell you: Geisha coffee is simply a coffee variety. Geisha (or Gesha as it's known in Central America) is a precious coffee variety. Geisha has rich sweetness, an extremely clean mouthfeel, and abundant aromas that range from berries and citrus to mango, papaya, and peach. A very distinct bergamot-like aftertaste is also one of its typical cupping characteristics. To this day, Geisha remains the champion among coffee varieties.

When it comes to Geisha coffee, Panama's Hacienda La Esmeralda inevitably comes to mind, as this is where Geisha coffee gained its fame. The Geisha variety was discovered in 1931 in the Geisha forest of Ethiopia. Afterwards, Geisha was sent to Kenya's Coffee Research Institute, introduced to Uganda and Tanzania in 1936, brought to Costa Rica in 1953, and to Panama in 1970. Initially, not many people paid attention to Geisha until Panama's Hacienda La Esmeralda separated it from other varieties in 2003, and it became the BOP competition champion in 2004.

This means Geisha coffee was introduced from Ethiopia, but are the Geisha coffees from Ethiopia's Geisha village and Hacienda La Esmeralda the same variety? The answer is no. FrontStreet Coffee wants to tell you: Ethiopia is the genetic library of coffee, with numerous coffee varieties, many of which have yet to be discovered. The Geisha coffee from Ethiopia's Geisha village is the Gorri Geisha variety, while Hacienda La Esmeralda's is the Geisha variety. Of course, the flavors are also quite different, with Hacienda La Esmeralda's Geisha coffee being slightly superior to the Geisha village's Geisha coffee.

Panama Growing Environment

Different coffee-producing countries have different grading methods for coffee beans—some grade by bean size, some by defect rate, some by growing altitude... So how is Geisha coffee graded?

Let's first understand Panama's climate environment. Geisha coffee wasn't valued or famous in Ethiopia, but it became famous at Hacienda La Esmeralda in Panama. What kind of climate environment can grow such excellent Geisha coffee? FrontStreet Coffee understands that Geisha coffee is very particular about its growing environment, requiring planting in high-altitude areas with cloud shade or extensive shade trees, and fertile soil. High-altitude Geisha variety coffee has distinct floral aromas and refined, elegant fruit acidity, making its graceful flavor one of the reasons for its global popularity.

Panama borders Costa Rica and Colombia. The east-west environment allows cold air currents to flow through the central mountains and converge above 1,900 meters altitude, creating a unique microclimate in the Boquete and Piedra de Candela regions. This area has temperatures and rainfall perfect for plant growth, making it Panama's main coffee-producing region. Besides the climate, the surrounding land is rich in nutrients, and fertile soil provides perfect growing conditions for coffee, creating numerous unique, high-quality coffees.

Hacienda La Esmeralda Estate

Because Geisha coffee trees have low yields, the previous estate owner used them as windbreak trees. The Peterson father and son team discovered their potential after cupping coffee beans from different areas of the estate and decided to cultivate the coffee trees from this area separately. Starting with their championship in the 2004 Panama Best of Panama (BOP) green bean competition, they achieved remarkable success. Later, expert identification confirmed that these coffee beans were the Geisha variety from Ethiopia. Afterwards, the Peterson family focused most of their energy on developing infrastructure to support excellent batch separation and precise processing.

FrontStreet Coffee understands that although Hacienda La Esmeralda initially discovered coffee beans with flavor potential, they conducted cupping of coffee beans from different areas of the estate for precision, determining planting plots based on altitude. This is why we now have the Red Label, Green Label, and Blue Label Geisha grades, all primarily graded by altitude with cupping as a secondary factor.

Red Label Geisha Coffee

The Esmeralda Special Selection Geisha is what we commonly call the Red Label. It selects Geisha beans grown at altitudes of 1,600-1,800 meters, with cupping scores above 90 points, from the Jaramillo and Canas Verdes regions. FrontStreet Coffee's Red Label Geisha coffee comes from Canas Verdes, using natural processing, with distinct rose aromas and berry sweet-tartness, with full juice sensation filling the entire mouth.

Hacienda La Esmeralda's own independent auction features Geisha batches from designated plots that are put up for auction—these are the auction Red Labels. However, there are also non-auction Red Labels on the market today, which are actually Geisha beans selected from the same plots but not put up for auction, then circulated in the market. The variety quality is consistent, only showing differences in pricing.

This grade of Geisha uses natural or washed processing methods, with flavors featuring special, bright floral aromas and citrus notes.

Green Label Geisha Coffee

Private Collection is the Green Label Geisha, not from independent competition batches, but Geisha varieties that don't participate in auctions but still have excellent quality. It selects micro-batch beans from different plots like Jaramillo and Canas Verdes, grown at altitudes of 1,600-1,800 meters.

Because it uses a blending model without specifying a particular plot, sometimes the Green Label's flavor similarity to the Red Label can be very high, but the next batch might show differences.

Although the Green Label is not as high-grade as the Red Label, it still carries Geisha's classic flavors—floral, fruity, citrus acidity, and thick, juicy texture. FrontStreet Coffee believes that if you want to drink Geisha coffee, the Green Label is an excellent choice. FrontStreet Coffee's Green Label Geisha coffee comes in both natural and washed processing. The washed version has floral, fruity, and citrus acidity with a fresh, clean taste, while the natural processing has the washed processing base notes while providing a thick, juicy texture.

Blue Label Geisha Coffee

Blue Label is grown at altitudes of 1,400-1,500 meters. Blue Label mixes Geisha coffee beans from three different plots: Jaramillo, Canas Verdes, and El Velo. In previous years, Blue Label Geisha only had washed processing, but the 2020 Blue Label batch added natural processing.

However, in the 2021 production season, Hacienda La Esmeralda has discontinued the Blue Label series. The Geisha coffee from the original Blue Label production areas was sold to a brand, which launched "Las Rocas," meaning volcanic rock Geisha coffee beans. In the consumer market, the original Blue Label simply changed brands while maintaining the same flavor profile.

FrontStreet Coffee Brewing Recommendations

To enjoy a delicious cup of coffee, FrontStreet Coffee believes that coffee bean freshness is a crucial factor. Fresh coffee beans allow you to experience the rich flavors of coffee to the greatest extent. Coffee beans shipped by FrontStreet Coffee are all roasted within 5 days because FrontStreet Coffee deeply understands that coffee bean freshness greatly affects flavor. FrontStreet Coffee's roasting philosophy is "freshly roasted good coffee," ensuring that every customer who places an order receives the freshest coffee when it arrives. The coffee resting period is about 4-7 days, so when customers receive it, it's at peak flavor.

Of course, some customers need FrontStreet Coffee to grind the beans for them, which is also fine. However, FrontStreet Coffee needs to remind you: if coffee beans are ground in advance, there's no need for further resting because during transportation, the pressure from carbon dioxide buildup in the package can also help round out the coffee flavors, so you can brew a cup immediately upon receiving the ground coffee. However, ground coffee needs to be brewed promptly because ground coffee oxidizes quickly when exposed to air, meaning the coffee flavors will dissipate relatively quickly, and the coffee won't taste as good. Therefore, FrontStreet Coffee recommends buying whole beans and grinding fresh before brewing to better appreciate the coffee's flavors.

FrontStreet Coffee Geisha Brewing Parameters

Since FrontStreet Coffee's Panama Geisha coffee beans are lightly roasted, FrontStreet Coffee typically uses a Hario V60 dripper, finer grind size, and higher water temperature when brewing Panama Geisha coffee.

FrontStreet Coffee chooses: V60 dripper, water temperature 90°C, water-to-coffee ratio 1:15, coffee amount 15g, grind size (China No. 20 standard sieve 80% pass rate).

Using segmented extraction, bloom with 2 times the coffee weight in water—that is, 30g of water for 30 seconds. The blooming process is needed to allow the coffee grounds to release internal carbon dioxide gas, thereby making the later extraction more stable. With a small water flow in circular motion, pour to 125g, then continue pouring to 225g and stop. Once the water from the dripper finishes dripping, remove the dripper. Time from the start of pouring, extraction time is 2'00". Next, pick up the entire cup of coffee, shake it well, then pour it into cups for tasting.

Panama Hacienda La Esmeralda Red Label Geisha Coffee Flavor: Bright rose and citrus aromas, brown rice, berries, apricots, complex fruits, honey, with thick juice sensation, rich flavor layers, and distinct sweetness.

Panama Hacienda La Esmeralda Green Label Geisha Coffee Flavor: Rich jasmine floral aroma, high sweetness, citrus, berries, juice sensation, cream, green tea, orange peel, cantaloupe, overall rich flavor layers, with floral and citrus persistence in the aftertaste.

FrontStreet Coffee Volcanic Rock Coffee Flavor: Ginger flower, citrus, honey, pomelo.

Geisha coffee's flavors are so excellent that friends accustomed to Geisha coffee flavors might want to try Geisha from other producing regions. Of course, besides Hacienda La Esmeralda's Geisha coffee, FrontStreet Coffee also offers other famous estates in Panama, such as Elida Estate Geisha, Boquete Estate, etc., as well as Costa Rica's Mirasu Geisha coffee, Colombia's Hanami Geisha coffee, and Panama's Mariposa Geisha coffee. Of course, these are all Geisha blends, but if you want to experience Geisha coffee flavors without spending so much money, these are excellent choices!

Important Notice :

前街咖啡 FrontStreet Coffee has moved to new addredd:

FrontStreet Coffee Address: 315,Donghua East Road,GuangZhou

Tel:020 38364473