[News Boquete] Boquete Panama - Geisha Coffee Breaks World Record in BOP Auction

REPRINTED FROM NEWSROOM PANAMA

Boquete Panama - Geisha Coffee Breaks World Record in BOP Auction

 

---

At the turn of the century, Kentucky born Robert Lamastus started an Arabica coffee plantation in a farm located at around 5,600 ft (1 700 m) above sea level in the skirts of the Baru Volcano in Boquete, Panama. At the time our grandfather processed and exported what is still today considered as one of the highest quality coffees in the world. Nowadays and three generations later the tradition continues, the Lamastus family, still produces, processes, exports, and now roast its own rare estate coffees.  Panameño coffee conquers the world: A new chapter is written in the history of Panamanian coffee. The Elida Geisha Natural Torre lot from Lamastus Family Estate has reached an unprecedented price of $10,013.00 dollars per kilogram in the Best of Panama 2024 online auction, solidifying the country as the global benchmark in specialty coffee production.  This achievement not only reflects the exceptional quality of Panamanian coffee, but also the growing global interest in gourmet and single origin products. The BOP auction has become an international-sized event that attracts buyers from all over the world, who recognize the value and exquisiteness of our grains. Impressively, never before recorded in an electronic auction of specialty coffee, the second best price was $10,002.00 dollars per kilogram ($4,536.84 per pound) for the Kaizen lot from the Lorayne Estate in Boquete and presented by Marcus Durán Rosas.  This young Geisha first place winner characterized by a clean cup, sweet, floral and very consistent in its entire process, with impressive notes of orange, lots of lemongrass and citrus, was purchased at a total cost of $200,040.00 dollars, by the Japanese company Saza Coffee.

This is one of today's most sought after coffees.  Elida Estate continually wins 1st place in both Natural and Washed Geisha categories in the Best of Panama competitions, so this coffee has become extremely scarce.  It was an unheard of accomplishment when one considers the quantity and quality of the competition.  The prices those coffees achieved at auction break world records all the time.  The Geisha Natural from Elida that won in years gone by was from this very plot of land, at the highest elevation of the Elida farm where there is also a sweeping, panoramic view of the surrounding Panama Highlands beneath and all around.  We have offered coffee from Panama Elida Estate for several years, and in 2024 this continues. This exceptional lot is a Geisha Natural ASD (Anaerobic Slow Dry) from La Torre, the most coveted plot of land on the Elida Estate located at the farm's highest growing elevation.  Elida Estate has been run by the Lamastus family for four generations, starting in 1918 (pictured below) when the founder of the farm, Robert Lamastus, bought property along the Baru Volcano.  There are three farms in the Lamastus family: Elida Estate, El Burro Estate, and Luito Geisha Estate. With elevations between 5500 and 8200 feet above sea level, Elida is the highest coffee farm in Panama, although coffee is only grown between 5600 and 6200 feet.  A large part of the farm is a dedicated ecological reserve area in Volcan Baru National Park, a world heritage site.

Cup Characteristics: Aromas of plumeria and other florals, dried orange peel, and cocoa. Flavors of almond, Cointreau, and sweet chocolate.  A winey cup that is very floral and fruit forward.

Roasting Notes: Our preferred roasting range for this coffee is midway between 1st and 2nd crack. The delicate qualities will be present throughout this range, with lighter variations highlighting piquancy and citrus notes, while Full City levels will enhance body. Keep in mind that natural processed coffees tend to roast a little quicker than washed, and plan your roast accordingly.

 

___________________________________________________________________
The above message was distributed by News Boquete, a free subscription-based community service.
News Boquete's ONLY public email address is news.boquete@gmail.com.
For more info and use policy, visit https://www.dropbox.com/s/24y1vz2vae9iaen/News_Boquete_Policy.pdf?dl=0.

If replying to this message, reply ONLY to the ORIGINATOR (typically your email's 'Reply To' function works; do not use 'Reply All').

To stop receiving these emails, send a message to news.boquete@gmail.com with the word unsubscribe in the subject line or body of the message.

© 2005-2024, News Boquete. All rights reserved. Public redistribution strictly prohibited without prior written permission.