Panama - Auction Lot Hacienda La Esmeralda Montaña San Jose - EA14

It is the Peterson family of Hacienda La Esmeralda, established in 1967, who set the course for Panama Geisha’s global prominence, irrevocably changing the coffee world. Initially driven by Geisha’s resistance to coffee leaf rust, they serendipitously uncovered its potential for exceptional cup quality when planted at the highest altitudes on their Jaramillo farm.

In 2004, enabled by their innovative cultivation method of lot separation based on altitude & microclimate, the Peterson family made history as Jaramillo Geisha broke all records for the highest price ever paid for coffee at the Best of Panama auction. This moment set the precedent for how exceptional coffee is now recognized & valued, ushering in an era of Panamanian coffee as an internationally coveted luxury & the flagbearer for variety-focused, terroir-driven production.

In the 2024 Best of Panama, two decades after their historic victory, they placed 7th & 8th in the Geisha Washed category, 10th in Geisha Natural, and 5th & 13th in Varietals—perpetuating their legacy & influence as iconic pioneers of Panama Geisha.

Panama Geisha is a rare, delicate, and complex variety well-loved for its sweet florality and citrus highlights. Since its debut win at the Best of Panama auction in 2004, it has kept specialty coffee lovers everywhere captivated by its endless possibilities, delicacy, complexity, and clarity of flavors.

As such, it is often showcased on coffee competition stages by a great number of coffee champions, and it also continues to fetch the highest prices.

While a coffee’s truest intrinsic qualities are still largely believed to be showcased best by traditional washed processing due to the demucilaging, washing, and scrubbing steps removing all traces of fruit from the bean, the expertise of seasoned and passionate producers like Peterson Family allows them to direct the flavor character of the Panama Geisha towards a seemingly endless diversity of delightfully surprising trajectories.

They do this through the purposeful implementation of traditional methods like the natural and honey processes, as well as intentional and innovative processing styles.