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Does Panama Only Grow Geisha Coffee? Is Panama Coffee Suitable for Hang-Ear Coffee?

Published: 2026-01-27 Author: FrontStreet Coffee

Last Updated: 2026/01/27, Coffee in Panama arrived with European immigrants in the 19th century, approximately 50 years after the country gained independence from Spain. However, as an agricultural product, it has only truly established itself in the last 20 years. In contemporary Panama, coffee is primarily produced by two main indigenous groups, the Bugle and Ngobe people, as well as medium to large privately-owned estates typically run by European or North American immigrants or their descendants.

Panama's Coffee Heritage

Coffee arrived in Panama in the 19th century with European immigrants, approximately 50 years after the country gained independence from Spain. However, as an agricultural product, it truly only established itself firmly in the past two decades. In contemporary Panama, coffee is primarily produced by small farmers from two major indigenous groups—the Bugle and Ngobe peoples—as well as medium to large estates typically privately owned by European or North American immigrants or their descendants.

Terroir and Growing Conditions

The microclimates of coffee-growing regions vary due to soil quality (for example, considerable volcanic soil in volcanic areas) and altitude (1000-1650 meters), often with abundant freshwater for processing.

Economic Factors and Market Position

For a long time, the country itself has attracted Europeans and North Americans seeking an "idyllic" life in a beautiful, tropical, and relatively stable Latin American nation. A convergence of high demand for real estate, relatively protected national labor and wage laws, and significant influence from the global North has conspired to make Panama coffee more expensive to produce and purchase. Furthermore, on the scale of global coffee production, Panama's contribution is almost negligible, and production has been declining in recent years.

Flavor Profile and Appeal

Nevertheless, the coffee's mild profile and approachable sweet/nutty notes continue to attract fans, serving as an excellent complement to the higher, more vibrant acidity of other Central American coffee profiles.

The Geisha Variety

Since the early 2000s, the words "Panama" and "Geisha" have become almost synonymous: the variety was "rediscovered" at the now-famous Hacienda La Esmeralda farm in Boquete, owned by the Peterson family. In 2004, the Petersons selected and separated Geisha cherries from their farm and entered them in the Panama Taste Competition: they quickly caught the attention of the entire specialty coffee community, and soon Geisha from Esmeralda was fetching up to $140 per pound for green coffee in private online auctions.

Geisha's Influence and Expansion

Geisha's remarkable success for Esmeralda naturally inspired other producers to separate their varieties and even plant new Geisha trees on farms where only Caturra and Bourbon previously existed. Geisha also spread from Panama to other producing countries, where enterprising farmers hoped to capitalize on the name and the distinctive floral, tea-like, delicate profile.

Varieties Beyond Geisha

Besides the renowned Geisha, Panama coffee varieties include Caturra and Catuai coffee bean varieties. FrontStreet Coffee's Panama Diamond Mountain coffee belongs to the Caturra and Catuai varieties, with flavors of citrus, berries, honey, cocoa, and fermentation notes. Another offering is Panama Flower Butterfly, also belonging to the Panama Geisha coffee category. Its variety is a mix of Geisha and Caturra/Catuai, used for drip coffee bags, making it a cost-effective bean that allows one to experience the Geisha variety's characteristics.