WRITTEN BY DAVID SERKIN
I am thrilled to introduce you to the world-renowned, truly unique Geisha Coffee of Panama, brought to you by the acclaimed Lamastus Family Estates. Panamanian Geisha is the most sought-after coffee varietal in the world, consistently breaking records as the most expensive coffee sold at auction year after year. In 2024, the Lamastus Family Estate set new records with an astounding $13,518 per kilo at a private auction, and an impressive $10,013 per kilo at the prestigious Best of Panama Competition.
In 2004 at Panama’s Geisha first debuted, one judge at the Best of Panama Competition famously said, “I have now seen God in a cup.”
I am thrilled to introduce you to the world-renowned, truly unique Geisha Coffee of Panama, brought to you by the acclaimed Lamastus Family Estates. Panamanian Geisha is the most sought-after coffee varietal in the world, consistently breaking records as the most expensive coffee sold at auction year after year. In 2024, the Lamastus Family Estate set new records with an astounding $13,518 per kilo at a private auction, and an impressive $10,013 per kilo at the prestigious Best of Panama Competition.
In 2004 at Panama’s Geisha first debuted, one judge at the Best of Panama Competition famously said, “I have now seen God in a cup.”
Lamastus’s Luito Geisha Estate is a prime example of ecological restoration, having transitioned from intensive vegetable farm-ing to a thriving, biodiverse landscape where 2,300 Geisha trees grow under a canopy of native fruit trees. This supports local biodiversity and aids in carbon sequestra-tion, benefiting the planet and supporting the rich ecosystem of birds, insects, and other wildlife. Wilford Lamastus explains, “We have integrated 2,300 Geisha coffee trees under this canopy and will be starting the processing in the next 2 years.”
The Geisha species (named after the Japanese lady performing artists and enter-tainers) was a coffee tree that originally grew in the highlands of Ethiopia near Gesha. An English Captain, Richard Wallace, led a dangerous expedition into the Ethiopian highlands, between two warring tribes near Gesha (some prefer to use this spelling).Successfully bringing the seeds out of Ethiopia, and then via Kenya and Tanzania, they were brought to an agricultural institute in Costa Rica. There, the seeds remained largely unused. It was a very low-yield varietal and purposefully neglected by coffee growers looking for high-yield trees.
The Geisha seeds sat ignored for years during the era of mass-produced coffees. Regardless, the seeds were selected and brought to Panama by the panamanian Agricultural Minister Don Pachi. He had the idea to plant several of them in Panama at higher elevations above Boquete. A coffee farm called Jamarillo was acquired by a relatively new grower in the area called Hacienda La Esmeralda. In 1999, Panama experienced 3 weeks of unusually intense rain. Most of the fruit and leaves of other varietals had been destroyed, but the Geisha trees were intact. After cultivating the lot of Geisha they had never tasted any other
coffee like it before. Initially they even questioned whether something had gone wrong in the processing. Regardless, they wisely (in retrospect) decided to present it anyway at the Best of Panama (BOP) competition in 2004.
The judges absolutely flipped over the Geisha. It scored an unprecedented 96/100, with one judge even awarding it a never-seen-before, perfect 100!
The newly emerging Specialty Coffee Industry soon recognized Geisha’s value, and its delicate, tea-like qualities eventually captivated Japanese buyers, and then the rest of Asia. Prices of the Panama’s Geishas have been breaking records ever since. One American importer even had it delivered it by Armored Truck!
The Lamastus Family Estates of Panama are now considered one of the world’s elite Geisha producers, with an impressive list of accolades:
- Best of Panama Competitions (2016-2024): Consistent top 8 finalist over nine consecutive competitions, winning 14 Geisha category awards (seven 1st places, two 2nd places, and three 3rd places).
- Panama Cup: Awarded Best Producer of the Year four times, more than any other producer.
- World Price Records: Multiple record-setting prices, including the current private auction and Best of Panama records.
Lamastus Family Estates continues to set the global standard in Geisha coffee, blending tradition with innovation and sustainability. To explore this iconic coffee and experience the legacy of Panamanian Geisha, visit Lamastus Family Estates on-line. You can also be included in their auctions, and visit the Estates in person in Panama. They receive over 100 visitors each year. Wilford Lamastus loves sharing his passion with visitors.
Website:
www.lamastusfamilyestates.com
Instagram:
@lamastusfamilyestates
