“With enough coffee, I can dress myself and use my grown-up manners.” – Barista Life
Before heading off the grid to volunteer in the Bocas del Toro region of Panama, I spent the day wandering around Panama City. With so many unique things to do in Panama, at the top of my list for the day was to seek out the award winning “best coffee in the world” known as Geisha Coffee.
A History of Geisha Coffee
This little bean has quite the traveler history of its own, before finally settling in Boquete, Panama. The story goes that the beans came from Gesha (and yes that is the correct spelling), in Southwestern Ethiopia. From there it traveled to Kenya, then Tanzania, and to Costa Rica before finally reaching Panama in the 1960s.
But the bean didn’t gain popularity until around 2004. Prior to this time the beans were never consumed on their own. It started with Daniel Peterson of Hacienda La Esmeralda who presented the unblended beans to a panel of tasters in the Best of Panama 2004. And as they say, the rest is history.
Growing
Geisha plants are far from easy to grow. They have a thin foliar system making photosynthesis less efficient as well as a poor root system resulting in less intake of water and energy compared to other varietals. It also needs high elevations, preferably above 1,700 meters.
At Hacienda La Esmeralda, the lowest elevation they grow their beans is around 1,700 meters and upwards of 1,900 meters.
Award Winning Coffee
This coffee has won numerous awards since it’s coming out party in 2004 and always sits at the top of the best coffees in the world. It is also one of the most expensive cups of coffee you will ever drink.
In Panama, you can get a cup for as little as $9, but elsewhere in the world your going to pay significantly more. For example, in New York you will pay upwards of $18 and in Dubai it’s going to set you back by $68!
And everyone wants a taste of this magical coffee from the U.S. to Taiwan, China, Hong Kong, Australia, Japan, South Korea and Dubai. Geisha coffee can cost more than $600 a pound, especially when bought directly from the source. Outside of the “poop coffees” such as kopi luwak and Black Ivory, from elephant dung, Geisha is the most expensive coffee in the world.
But it’s not just about the cost of the coffee. It has a 96 “cupping score.” Coffee judges score a coffee based on a strict protocol and then subsequently give a score between 0 and 100. Criteria being based on flavor, acidity, body and aftertaste.
Most coffees tend to fall in the 60-90 range. If a coffee gets a score of 80 or above it’s considered a specialty coffee. Greater than 90 means the coffee is outstanding. Panama has 29 samples of various coffees (including Geisha coffee) with scores 90 or above, making them #1 for best coffees with Ethiopia coming in at #2.
Where to get a cup in Panama
So, this is how I found myself wandering through the Old City in Panama City, with its upscale, brightly painted colonial buildings and cobbled stoned streets. Among these streets is Unido Café, overlooking an ancient church, this tiny café is attached to a hotel.
The hotel is beautiful, with vaulted ceilings and fine finishes, all very luxurious looking, and filled with North Americans. It is here that you can get your very own Geisha coffee for as little as $9. Though the area is a bit touristy the coffee is authentic and the baristas speak little English.
The coffee is prepared over a carafe through the use of a funnel. Freshly ground coffee is put into the funnel and the barista slowly pours hot water through the funnel, patiently waiting for the hot water to percolate down into the carafe.
I now know why it gets the accolades it does. It is the best cup of coffee I have ever tasted. Smooth as honey and without an ounce of bitterness it has a slightly nutty taste. You don’t need to add any cream, but I did add just a little sugar to add just a bit of extra sweetness.
Outside of Panama
If you can’t get to Panama but are looking to taste this delightful goodness many specialty coffee shops around the world have begun to sell it. But there is nothing like sitting in the country that made it popular and paying half the price, gazing out the windows watching life go by as you sip the best coffee in the world.
