top of page

BEST OF PANAMA 2025: HACIENDA LA ESMERALDA’S UNPRECEDENTED TRIPLE CROWN

  • Writer: Om Gajjar
    Om Gajjar
  • Jul 8, 2025
  • 3 min read

Panama’s premier coffee showcase, Best of Panama (BoP), has crowned its champions for 2025. Yet this year, one name soared above all: Hacienda La Esmeralda—a family-run farm in Boquete that has swept every major award, from the Washed and Natural Geisha categories to the coveted Varietals crown—and clinched the Panama Cup for Best Producer of the Year.


WHAT JUST HAPPENED (IN NUMBERS)


  • Geisha Washed: 98.00 points — highest score in BoP history 

  • Geisha Natural: 97.00 points 

  • Varietals Category: Top score with a standout Laurina lot

  • Panama Cup: Earned Best Producer of the Year.


This is the first-ever Triple Crown in BoP’s nearly three-decade legacy—an extraordinary moment for Panama, the specialty coffee world, and the entire Peterson family legacy.



THE SECRET TO THEIR SUCCESS


Hacienda La Esmeralda’s path to excellence combines heritage, precision, and terroir-first discipline:


  1. Geisha’s Magical Origin

    • Discovered on their farm in 2004, Geisha proved to be a revelation—floral, aromatic, fruity, and far from ordinary.

    • Since then, the farm has meticulously isolated and nurtured its Geisha plantings.


  2. Rigorous Processing & Quality Control

    • Only hand‑picked ripe cherries, sorted impeccably to ensure consistency.

    • Dual processing methods:

      • Washed: de-pulped, fermented, rinsed, and climate-controlled dried for purity and clarity.

      • Natural: sun-dried whole cherries for vibrant fruit expression.

    • Precision fermentation (3+ days on some lots) and controlled drying technology enhance nuance and depth.


  3. Micro‑Climate & Volcanic Terroir

    • Grown at high elevations (1,600–1,800 masl) in Boquete’s volcanic soils, with cool mountain airs—ideal for preserving acidity and delicate aromatics.


  4. Relentless Innovation

    • Over two decades, they've refined fermentation chambers, roasting protocols, and drying ducts—all in pursuit of consistency and top-tier scores.



THE COFFEE BEHIND THE ACCOLADES


Geisha Washed 2025 (98 pts):

  • A shimmering tapestry of jasmine, bergamot, stone fruit, and citrus. In cup, it’s crystalline clarity, with elegant floral tones and vibrant acidity—a textbook expression of terroir-clean processing .


Geisha Natural 2025 (97 pts):

  • Lush and sweet, with tropical fruit brightness, honeyed body, and layered complexity. Here, the drying process amplifies fruity intensity, while still maintaining the variety’s signature clarity .


Varietal Collection (Laurina):

  • Sweet, delicate, and tea-like—a beautiful counterpoint to Geisha, which sealed their Panama Cup win.



WHY THIS MATTERS


  • Benchmark Redefined: Their 98-point score sets a new standard—“it pushes everyone to aim higher”.

  • Global Recognition: Reinforces Panama as the pinnacle of specialty coffee and reinforces Geisha’s elite status.

  • Auction Buzz: With such record-breaking scores and small-lot production (some just 6–10 kg), the upcoming August auction is sure to shatter price ceilings—2024 lots fetched $2,500–$7,500/kg; 2025 could soar even higher.



A TOAST TO COFFEE AND ITS KEEPERS


Hacienda La Esmeralda’s Triple Crown isn’t just a triumph—it’s a living testament to what’s possible when passion, precision, and terroir converge. From Rachel Peterson’s discovery of Geisha to today’s global acclaim, their journey is a love letter to coffee’s potential. This is not only history—it’s inspiration.



DIVE DEEPER AND CONNECT!


  • Learn more about Best of Panama and the auction process → Best of Panama official site

  • Discover Hacienda La Esmeralda’s story, farms, and upcoming Geisha auction → Hacienda La Esmeralda

  • Source 2025 Geisha through specialty roasters internationally, or follow auction results in August.


BREW IT, TASTE IT, CELEBRATE IT!


To coffee lovers, buyers, and fellow growers: seize the chance to taste this legend. Brew intentionally. Savor the journey from Cup of Excellence to your cup. And most importantly—raise a toast to the farmers, the climate, the science, and the spirit that made this victory possible.


Here’s to breaking records, raising standards, and celebrating producers like Hacienda La Esmeralda. If you’d like help sourcing or brewing their award-winning 2025 lots, I’d be thrilled to guide you!


Happy sipping—and may your next cup be as extraordinary as this one.

 
 
 

Comments

bottom of page