World's Top 10 Most Expensive Coffees - The Real Reasons Behind Panama Hacienda La Esmeralda Geisha Coffee Beans' High Prices

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Geisha Coffee Beans: One of the World's Ten Most Expensive Coffees

Geisha is pronounced like the Japanese word "geisha," hence this nickname. The rise of Geisha coffee beans is undoubtedly the most famous legend in the specialty coffee world since the millennium.

Geisha coffee beans, also called Guisha coffee or Guisha beans, are actually the same type of coffee bean. Its name comes from Geisha Mountain in Ethiopia, pronounced similarly to the famous Japanese geisha, thus earning its name.

The Extraordinary Legend of Geisha Coffee Beans

Geisha coffee beans have an extraordinary legend... This coffee bean actually originates from southwestern Ethiopia. In 1963, Don Pachi Serracin introduced Geisha coffee tree varieties from Costa Rica to Panama. Due to low yields, which directly affected harvest volumes, coffee farmers had little interest in planting them.

It wasn't until Daniel Peterson, owner of Panama La Esmeralda, accidentally discovered that the coffee beans produced by these Geisha coffee trees—originally used as windbreaks at the highest point of his coffee estate—had the characteristic citrus and floral aromas of African beans. After separating these coffee beans and entering them in the 2004 Panama Cupping Competition, they shot to fame. Since then, Geisha beans have been unstoppable, winning consecutive championships in the Panama Coffee Cupping Competition for many years. In the eyes of specialty coffee enthusiasts worldwide today, Geisha coffee beans are undoubtedly the supreme treasure.

From 2004 to the present, we can still say... Panama Geisha beans are the finest in the world, and Panama La Esmeralda Geisha stands out as the best among them.

The Enduring Legend

The legend endures~ In 2017, Panama La Esmeralda Geisha won the natural process championship again—this should be their 18th championship trophy. To stand out among many strong competitors year after year, besides the delicious genes of Geisha beans, excellent coffee estate management and harvesting/processing are absolutely essential. It's particularly worth mentioning that La Esmeralda's owner places extreme importance on environmental protection. Therefore, their produced coffee can participate in Rainforest Alliance Cupping Competitions and has brought back 5 championship trophies.

• ⇒ Specialty Coffee Association of America (SCAA) Cupping Championship (2007, 2006, 2005)
• ⇒ Best of Panama Championship (2017, 2015, 2013, 2010, 2009, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004)
• ⇒ Rainforest Alliance Coffee Quality Cupping Competition Championship (2013, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2004)

Auctions: The Art of Valuing Premium Coffee

The method of using auctions to obtain high prices for valuable items applies equally well to selling premium coffee beans. Panama La Esmeralda Geisha is particularly distinctive. To ensure that the good coffee beans they carefully cultivate and manage receive reasonable compensation, La Esmeralda holds its own global auction after the annual coffee cupping competition. This has become an annual major event in the specialty coffee world.

Around mid-year each year, green coffee buyers worldwide interested in that year's premium Geisha beans reference the competition beans' scores before bidding, and according to their budgets, try to secure their ideal coffee lots. During the auction opening, everyone is tense and bold in their pricing, deeply fearing that if they miss out on delicious coffee beans, they'll have to painfully wait another year.

The Devil in the Details: Don't Spend Blindly on "Panama La Esmeralda Geisha Beans"

Understanding "La Esmeralda Red Label," "La Esmeralda Green Label," and "La Esmeralda Blue Label"

After years of experimentation, La Esmeralda discovered that only Geisha beans harvested from coffee trees growing above 1,400 meters altitude can display the special flavors that Geisha beans should have. Therefore, the main grading is based primarily on planting altitude, supplemented by actual cupping results, dividing Geisha coffee beans into "Red, Green, Blue Label" grades.

Premium Grade - Red Label [Auction Batches]

• ⇒ Growing altitude: 1,600-1,800 meters
• ⇒ Cupping score: 90 points and above
• ⇒ Mainly produced from Jaramillo and Cañas Verdes estates, representing the highest quality Geisha coffee beans
• ⇒ Geisha beans harvested from the highest points of the Boquete mountain region, possessing special, bright floral and citrus aromas
• ⇒ Coffee at this grade will be processed into natural or washed green beans
• ⇒ Can only be purchased through the annual global auction

Secondary Grade - Green Label [Reserve Batches]

• ⇒ Growing altitude: 1,600-1,800 meters
• ⇒ Micro-lot blends from three different estates: Jaramillo, Quiel, and Cañas Verdes
• ⇒ Although not the highest grade auction beans, this grade of Geisha beans still carries the classic flavors of Geisha coffee beans—floral, fruity, citrus acidity, and thick, juicy mouthfeel
• ⇒ Carefully selected perfectly ripe coffee fruits create rich sweetness, bright fruit acidity, and delicious flavors
• ⇒ This grade of Geisha beans also offers both washed and natural processed green beans to choose from

Standard Grade - Blue Label [Select Batches]

• ⇒ Growing altitude: 1,500 meters
• ⇒ Blends from three different estates: Jaramillo, Cañas Verdes, and El Velo
• ⇒ Slight floral notes, fruit acidity, sweetness, with a less full mouthfeel
• ⇒ This grade of Geisha beans only offers washed processed green beans

FrontStreet Coffee: A roastery in Guangzhou with a small shop but diverse bean varieties, where you can find various famous and lesser-known beans, also providing online shop services: https://shop104210103.taobao.com

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