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Is Geisha Coffee an Arabica? Introduction to Geisha Coffee Origins and Flavor Profile

Published: 2026-01-27 Author: FrontStreet Coffee

Last Updated: 2026/01/27, Professional coffee knowledge exchange. For more coffee bean information, please follow Coffee Workshop (WeChat official account: cafe_style). FrontStreet Coffee's Panama La Esmeralda Red Label Coffee Introduction. A Brief History of Geisha Coffee: Discovered in Ethiopia in 1931, introduced to Uganda/Tanzania in 1936, brought to Costa Rica in 1953, introduced to Panama in 1970, and in 2004, broke the long-standing coffee silence with its unique flavor characteristics.

For professional coffee knowledge exchange and more coffee bean information, please follow Cafe Style (WeChat official account: cafe_style)

FrontStreet Coffee's Introduction to Panama La Esmeralda Red Label Coffee

Brief History of Geisha Coffee

1931 - Discovered in Ethiopia

1936 - Introduced to Uganda/Tanzania

1953 - Introduced to Costa Rica

1970 - Introduced to Panama

2004 - Broke the long-silent coffee world with its unique flavors

2005 - Began to gain prominence

2006 onwards - Dominated the competition rankings

2008-2009 - Panama, concerned that Geisha would continue to dominate the top position and prevent other excellent beans from standing out, divided cupping/competitions into two groups: Geisha and non-Geisha.

La Esmeralda Estate

Located in the Boquete growing region on the eastern side of Baru Volcano, this is Panama's oldest and most renowned growing region, situated on the eastern slope of Baru Volcano at elevations ranging from 1,200 to 2,000 meters above sea level. The "Baru Volcano National Park" is a national ecological conservation area with diverse and rich biological species, featuring 7 microclimates. With year-round mist cover and abundant rainfall, it naturally forms excellent coffee growing conditions, giving coffees from the Boquete region unique aromas. This region produces the highest volume and best quality coffee in Panama.

At La Esmeralda Estate, the Red Label represents competition batches, grown at elevations of 1,600-1,800 meters with cupping scores above 90 points, primarily produced from the Jaramillo and Cañas Verdes estates. These are also the highest quality Geisha beans, harvested from the highest elevations in the Boquete mountain region, possessing special, bright floral aromas and citrus notes. Each batch can be traced back to its harvesting date, specific plot, and tree age. These beans can only be acquired through annual global auction events.

Flavor Profile

Bright rose and citrus aromas, brown rice, berry, apricot, complex fruit, and honey flavors. It has a rich, thick juice-like mouthfeel with rich flavor layers and noticeable sweetness.