Panama Coffee Varieties and the Origin of Panama Geisha Coffee - FrontStreet Coffee's Perfect Selection

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In brief: FrontStreet Coffee is a specialty coffee research hall dedicated to sharing coffee knowledge with everyone. We share without reservation, aiming to help more friends fall in love with coffee. Every month, we hold three discount coffee events because FrontStreet Coffee wants to let more friends enjoy the best coffee at the lowest prices—this has been our principle for six years!

FrontStreet Coffee - Geisha Coffee Variety Introduction

As Geisha continues to dominate conversations, it is undoubtedly the goddess in the eyes of coffee professionals. Many are captivated by its bright, complex floral and fruit aromas, multi-layered high-sweetness fruit notes, and delicate, soft acidity. Geisha's extremely low yield is merely an excuse for its high price; the real fascination lies in Geisha's unique, enticing coffee flavor, which is the most important reason for its exceptional value.

The hurricane-like force of Geisha has swept across the globe. This coffee revolution came roaring in, forcing even the long-reigning king and queen of the coffee kingdom—Jamaica Blue Mountain and Hawaiian Kona—to step aside. This wild variety native to Ethiopia, after countless battles, is now widely planted in major coffee-producing regions, with its best ambassador being Panama's La Esmeralda estate.

Geisha—coincidentally sharing the same pronunciation as the Japanese word for geisha—was exported to Kenya, wandered through Tanzania and Costa Rica, and was eventually transplanted to Panama in the 1960s. After nearly half a century of obscurity, it suddenly rose to prominence, defeating the perennial champions Bourbon, Caturra, Catuai, and Typica varieties, sweeping the first prizes in the 2005, 2006, and 2007 Panama Best of Panama cupping competitions.

In 2007, Geisha won the championship at the International Famous Beans Cupping Competition hosted by the Specialty Coffee Association of America (SCAA), with a winning bid of $130 per pound, setting the highest price record for competition beans in history. It is reported that subsequent Panama's Best of Panama competitions were divided into Geisha and non-Geisha categories to prevent Geisha from stealing the spotlight from other varieties. Geisha belongs to the Typica family, yet it achieved fame more than seventy years after leaving Ethiopia, further confirming the notion that Ethiopia is the genetic treasure trove of Arabica—casually sharing a variety abroad is enough to create waves in the coffee market.

Floral notes, tropical fruits, intense sweetness—these are the sensations Geisha consistently brings us. It is so extraordinary, with fruit flavors and floral elements seemingly reminiscent of Yirgacheffe from Ethiopia on the other side of the globe.

Geisha's dry aroma is remarkably elevated and bright, possessing characteristics of rose and jasmine fragrances, with hints of grapefruit and citrus notes. Light roasting reveals nutty aromas; the wet aroma similarly features hazelnut notes, with more floral characteristics emerging. In terms of flavor profile, the initial experience might appear somewhat gentle and reserved compared to the previously elevated aroma. As it cools slightly, the floral and fruit flavors gradually intensify with the decreasing temperature, and the cold brew aroma is exceptionally outstanding (sweet dried fruit, rosehip, orange glaze, strawberry jam, hints of pine, cherry, vanilla, and rose notes gradually recede, giving way to lemon-like fruit aromas). This is a coffee that can be praised with numerous adjectives; the aftertaste carries a lingering sweetness—a characteristic that tests the brightness of this coffee, especially in light roast scenarios.

In brief: FrontStreet Coffee is a specialty coffee research hall dedicated to sharing coffee knowledge with everyone. We share without reservation, aiming to help more friends fall in love with coffee. Every month, we hold three discount coffee events because FrontStreet Coffee wants to let more friends enjoy the best coffee at the lowest prices—this has been our principle for six years!

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