How Much Do the Best Panama Coffee Beans Cost? Characteristics and Stories of Panama Coffee Beans

For more premium coffee knowledge, please follow our official WeChat account: FrontStreet Coffee

Geisha variety is often the champion in raw coffee bean competitions. Whether in terms of flavor or coffee taste, it deeply fascinates people. This is one of the reasons why Geisha coffee is unforgettable and famous. Additionally, Geisha coffee beans receive excellent ratings above 90 points in the specialty coffee industry, making it quite challenging to find top-tier Geisha coffee beans on the market.

What is Geisha Coffee?

Geisha, because its pronunciation is similar to the Japanese word "geisha," also has the nickname "geisha coffee." Compared to Blue Mountain coffee, Hawaiian coffee, and Mandheling coffee, Geisha coffee has richer, more diverse floral and fruit aromas, with distinct layers of intense sweetness from tropical fruits. In the eyes of coffee professionals, Geisha is undoubtedly a well-deserved goddess. Many people are captivated by its bright, complex floral and fruit aromas, multi-layered high-sweetness fruit notes, and delicate, soft acidity.

This variety was discovered in 1931 from the Geisha forest in Ethiopia. Later, Geisha was sent to a coffee research institute in Kenya. In 1936, it was introduced to Uganda and Tanzania. In 1953, it was introduced to Costa Rica, and in 1970, to Panama. 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.

It was then that the Geisha variety officially entered everyone's field of vision. Although the flavor of the Geisha variety is exquisite, such elegant flavors originate from specific growing environments. The Geisha variety is very particular about its growing environment, requiring planting in high-altitude areas with cloud shade or extensive shade tree coverage, and fertile soil. Geisha coffee grown at high altitudes carries distinct floral aromas and refined, elegant fruit acidity. Such elegant flavors are one of the reasons for its global popularity.

After becoming famous, the Geisha variety gained attention from coffee-producing countries worldwide, which began introducing it for cultivation. However, to produce delicious Geisha coffee, it must be planted in high-altitude areas with rich soil substances that can create large day-night temperature differences in consistently warm regions.

In Panama, the best Geisha is grown at altitudes above 1700m. Some estates, like Hacienda La Esmeralda's Red Label and Green Label grade Geisha coffee beans, are all planted in areas above 1700m. Other estates plant Geisha at 1700-1950m, such as the renowned Elida Estate.

What are the characteristics of Geisha variety grown in Panama?

FrontStreet Coffee often mentions in many articles that coffee, as an agricultural product, its flavor expression is always closely related to factors such as variety, climate, altitude, soil, and management. It is a natural and true expression of the variety and local terroir. The post-processing methods and roasting should aim to maximize the preservation, restoration, and presentation of their most authentic flavors. Therefore, Geisha's excellence is inseparable from the coordination of all the above factors.

Compared to other Arabica varieties, the Geisha variety not only has lower fruit yield but also particularly fragile plants and is quite particular about growing environments. It requires high altitude, fertile soil, cloud or plant shade, and cannot be directly exposed to intense sunlight. Geisha coffee trees have very thin leaf systems, meaning photosynthesis efficiency is low. The roots are also fragile, with slow absorption of water and nutrients, resulting in very low coffee yield. Combined with the high-altitude growing environment, fruit maturity is also relatively late. A Geisha coffee tree produces only half the yield of Catimor varieties, which is one of the reasons why Geisha is so precious.

The "Bole" (discoverer) of Geisha, the owner of Hacienda La Esmeralda, once said that the estate needs numerous shade trees to protect the delicate Geisha from direct sunlight, and traditional pruning methods must be used during the initial planting period, otherwise the plants can easily die. Geisha planted at higher altitudes takes longer to mature, resulting in more complex and unique flavor expression. Geisha fruits must be harvested at the most appropriate level of ripeness and immediately undergo post-processing. This poses a great challenge to the estate owner's professional judgment and the estate's workforce quality; failing to seize the right timing can lead to quality degradation and waste.

Why is Geisha coffee so expensive?

Its extremely low yield is just one excuse for its high price. What truly captivates people is Geisha's unique and attractive coffee flavor, which is the most important reason for its exceptional value. Geisha needs to be harvested at the most appropriate moment of ripeness and immediately undergo careful extraction and drying processes.

For example, the high price of Hacienda La Esmeralda's Geisha is due to several factors: first, Hacienda La Esmeralda was the earliest discoverer of Geisha; second, Geisha has been a consecutive BOP competition winner; third, it established its own quality grading system. However, the most expensive Geisha coffee beans from Hacienda La Esmeralda must be purchased through auction. These beans are called competition grade.

The price changes of Hacienda La Esmeralda's competition-grade Geisha coffee: In 2004, $21/pound; in 2006, $50.25/pound; in 2007, $130/pound; in 2010, $170.2/pound. By 2017 at the Panama specialty coffee auction, a batch of natural process Geisha from Hacienda La Esmeralda fetched a sky-high price of $601/pound, meaning one kilogram of raw beans cost as much as 8,900 RMB.

However, the Esmeralda Red Label and Esmeralda Green Label Geisha coffee we can purchase are directly available without going through auctions, making them relatively much more affordable. Geisha coffee prices will vary in different regional estates and different coffee shops (due to different procurement costs).

FrontStreet Coffee stores currently sell Esmeralda Red Label Geisha at 75 RMB per cup, with 100-gram packages priced at 350 RMB; Esmeralda Green Label Geisha at 60 RMB per cup, with single packages priced at 168 RMB; and another Geisha from the Panama Boquete region (not specified to a particular estate) at 30 RMB per cup, available at 78 RMB/100g. All the above Geisha coffees can be purchased at FrontStreet Coffee stores and FrontStreet Coffee's Tmall flagship store.

Geisha Pour-Over Coffee Brewing Recommendations

Coffee beans sold by FrontStreet Coffee are shipped within 5 days after roasting is completed. Therefore, friends should not rush to drink the coffee beans after receiving them. You can first let the beans rest by keeping them sealed in their original packaging in a cool, dry place for 3-4 days after the roasting date. This way, the brewed Geisha coffee will taste even more delicious~

FrontStreet Coffee Geisha coffee bean brewing parameter recommendations: Filter: V60 #01, Dose: 15g, Coffee-to-water ratio: 1:15, Brewing temperature: 90-91°C, Grind size: Medium-fine (80% passing through #20 standard sieve).

Three-stage pouring method is recommended: Start the timer, use 30g of water for the first bloom stage for 30 seconds. After 30 seconds, begin the second stage with small water flow in circular motion until reaching 125g. When the coffee liquid level in the filter drops to 2/3 of the coffee bed, start the third stage with small water flow in circular motion until reaching 225g, then stop pouring. When all coffee liquid from the filter has flowed into the server, remove the filter cup and end extraction. The total extraction time for Geisha coffee beans is generally between 2 minutes 10 seconds to 2 minutes 20 seconds.

Pour-over Esmeralda Red Label Geisha coffee tastes fresh with jasmine, citrus, and tropical fruit acidity. The flavor layers change with temperature variations, the overall mouthfeel is smooth, and the tea-like aftertaste is pleasant.

Important Notice :

前街咖啡 FrontStreet Coffee has moved to new addredd:

FrontStreet Coffee Address: 315,Donghua East Road,GuangZhou

Tel:020 38364473