Pour-Over Method for New Blue Label Geisha Coffee Beans - Authentic Flavor Profile of Hacienda La Esmeralda's Volcanic Rock Geisha Las Rocas

In 2020, Panama's "Geisha Father," Hacienda La Esmeralda, announced the addition of a natural process to their Blue Label Geisha series. This news was a gospel for ordinary coffee enthusiasts, as Hacienda La Esmeralda finally added another affordable Geisha coffee bean to their lineup.

By 2021, Hacienda La Esmeralda released another statement announcing that this year's Geisha would only include Red Label and Green Label series, with even more detailed classifications. However, the Blue Label Geisha from previous years was not mentioned. Consequently, rumors spread wildly that the Blue Label was canceled this year. Shortly after, FrontStreet Coffee also received confirmation that Hacienda La Esmeralda would not release a Blue Label Geisha series in 2021.

This puzzled FrontStreet Coffee, because according to Hacienda La Esmeralda's classification of Red Label, Green Label, and Blue Label, Blue Label Geisha and Red/Green Label Geisha essentially come from different altitudes. The detailed distinctions are as follows:

Red Label Geisha

The specially selected Geisha from Hacienda La Esmeralda is what we commonly know as Red Label. It uses Geisha beans grown at altitudes of 1600-1800 meters, with cupping scores above 90 points, from the Jaramillo and Cañas Verdess regions.

The Red Label from the independent auction held by Hacienda La Esmeralda itself consists of Geisha batches from designated plots selected for auction. Customers often ask whether the auction Red Label or the regular Red Label tastes better. In fact, the non-auction Red Label and auction Red Label come from the same plot, with the only difference being whether they participated in the auction. FrontStreet Coffee believes it's not necessary to specifically drink auction-level coffee, mainly because the price is indeed higher, and secondly, if you just want to try it, the regular Red Label is also an excellent choice.

This grade of Geisha uses natural or washed processing methods, with flavors featuring special and bright floral aromas and citrus notes.

Green Label Geisha

Private Collection, commonly known as Green Label, consists of non-auction batches—Geisha varieties that don't participate in competitions but still maintain excellent quality. It uses micro-batch blends from different plots in Jaramillo, Cañas Verdess, and other regions, grown at altitudes of 1600-1800 meters.

People often ask about the difference between Red Label and Green Label. FrontStreet Coffee offers the most straightforward answer: Red Label can be traced back to specific small plots, while Green Label is a blend that cannot be traced. Because it uses a blending model without detailed plot specifications, sometimes Green Label and Red Label may have very similar flavor profiles, but the next batch might differ. FrontStreet Coffee feels that drinking Green Label is like buying a lottery ticket—perhaps this batch you taste has the flavor of Red Label.

Although Green Label is not as high-grade as Red Label, it still carries the classic flavors of Geisha: floral, fruity, citrus acidity, and a thick, juicy mouthfeel. Green Label Geisha also comes in both washed and natural processing.

Over the years, FrontStreet Coffee's Hacienda La Esmeralda Red Label and Green Label have been deeply loved by Geisha fans, so they are maintained year-round on the coffee bean list. Friends who want to taste them can directly order and purchase from the FrontStreet Coffee flagship store.

Blue Label Geisha

The Geisha 1500 brand is what we commonly know as Blue Label Geisha. It uses blends from three different plots: Jaramillo, Cañas Verdess, and El Velo, grown at altitudes of 1400-1500 meters. The flavors feature subtle floral notes, fruit acidity, and sweetness, with a less full body. Blue Label Geisha comes in both washed and natural processing.

If this is the case, where did this year's Blue Label Geisha coffee production go? Classifying it under Red Label and Green Label would affect Hacienda La Esmeralda's reputation, and the estate owner wouldn't be so foolish as to kill the goose that lays the golden eggs. Did the Geisha coffee trees have problems this year? That shouldn't be the case either, as then it wouldn't be just the Blue Label series that was affected.

The Truth Revealed

At the end of September 2021, a Panama Geisha labeled "Las Rocas" appeared. From the packaging information, this appeared to be a new Geisha brand from Boquete, Panama. However, after FrontStreet Coffee conducted some investigation, it was discovered that this batch of Geisha coffee beans labeled "Las Rocas" was actually from the Blue Label batch of Hacienda La Esmeralda.

It seems the Blue Label Geisha hasn't disappeared—it just changed its disguise to continue appearing in the consumer market. This batch of coffee beans used washed processing, still handled by Hacienda La Esmeralda. It's clear that this batch of beans maintains the same excellent quality as Blue Label, so those craving Blue Label Geisha coffee beans can look forward to it!!!

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