[News Boquete] High-end coffee shines at the Best of Panama National Tasting

*High-end coffee shines at the Best of Panama National Tasting; 64 lots advance to the international round* _Boquete (Panama) - July 24_ - Panama's high-end coffee reaffirmed its quality at the 30th edition of the Best of Panama (BOP) National Tasting, with 64 lots qualifying for the international round. This followed the rigorous evaluation by national judges who highlighted the sensory complexity, cup clarity, and terroir expression that characterize Panamanian specialty coffee. For five days, 21 national judges and 10 pre-judges evaluated the 102 registered lots to select the best 16 Varietals, 24 Natural Geishas, ​​and 24 Washed Geishas. These will be submitted to a panel of 27 international judges and 39 guest judges, who will determine the competition's winning coffees. “Despite this year’s small harvest, the quality has been superb. This year, Panamanian luxury coffee is very well represented, and the world’s coffee elite will be able to enjoy extraordinary coffees. Panamanian producers have once again produced coffees with unparalleled flavors,” stated Ricardo Koyner, owner of Café Kotowa, head judge of the competition, and president of the Specialty Coffee Association of Panama (SCAP). The tasting tables revealed high-level sensory profiles for the lots. In the Washed Geishas, ​​the panel found notes of jasmine, lemon, orange, tangerine, and white and purple flowers. In the Natural Geishas, ​​a combination of floral aromas predominated, layered with raspberry, strawberry, and red fruits, accompanied by a clean, defined, and very clear expression on the palate—qualities especially valued by the international jury. Rachel Peterson, national judge and marketing and sales manager of Hacienda La Esmeralda, explained that the panel's work consisted of selecting the coffees with the best conditions to compete in the next stage of the competition.“We have many very good coffees and we are very happy to take them to the international jury. There are Washed Geishas with the specific characteristics of this variety: jasmine, peach, and bergamot, very clean and without evidence of processing. This is the coffee that receives the highest scores in the cuppings and the one that achieves the best prices at auction,” she indicated.Peterson added that a high-end Geisha must express both the characteristics of the varietal and those of the terroir. “It should show notes of jasmine or white flowers, peach, stone fruit, and some citrus fruit like mandarin or bergamot. Furthermore, it reflects the elevation where it was grown and the way it was processed,” the national judge specified. For her part, pre-judge Janet Janson, from Janson Family Estate, highlighted the high level achieved by the participating coffees.“There are some spectacular coffees. The Varietals presented an incredible level, and the Natural Geishas show a trend toward classic naturals. We found outstanding coffees in all categories,” she stated. With the national phase concluded, the Best of Panama enters its decisive stage. The BOP 2026 International Tasting will take place from July 28 to August 1, organized by the Specialty Coffee Association of Panama (SCAP), where the 64 qualified lots will be re-evaluated to determine the winners of the thirtieth edition of the competition. ___________________________________________________________________ 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. © 2005-2026, /News Boquete/. All rights reserved. Public redistribution strictly prohibited without prior written permission.