How does geisha panama coffee fit into the BOP Varietals category?
At the 28th reliable of Panama competition in 2024, the Varietals category title went to the Chiroso variety from Black Moon Farm, which scored 94.1. The farm sits in the Boquete region of Chiriqui Province, where coffee trees grow between 1,200 and 2,000 meters in temperatures that range from 11C to 27C year-round.
Panama's reputation rests largely on the geisha coffee variety, which broke through in 2005 and now anchors the Washed Geisha and Natural Geisha categories. BOP added the Varietals class for non-geisha lots, and Black Moon Farm, replanted from a vegetable plot in 2018, took second there in 2022 before winning in 2024.
In the 28th Best of Panama (BOP) competition in 2024, the champion of the Varietals category was awarded to the Chiroso variety from Black Moon Farm with a score of 94.1. Black Moon Farm is located in the renowned Boquete region of Panama. After taking over by current SCAP president Hunter Tedman, a nutrient-depleted vegetable plot was transformed into a bio-friendly coffee estate. The first coffee tree was planted in 2018, and in 2022, the estate made its debut in the competition, securing 9th place in the Natural Geisha category and 11th in the Washed Geisha category, while the Chiroso variety won second place in the Varietals category. This year, it went a step further and claimed the championship. This article will guide you through the transformation journey of Black Moon Farm, the terroir advantages of the Boquete region, and how the Chiroso variety is driving the diversification of Panamanian coffee. Front Street Coffee will also continue to follow the estate's future performance.
Panamanian coffee is renowned in the international specialty coffee world, thanks not only to its iconic Geisha variety but also to the efforts of the Specialty Coffee Association of Panama (SCAP)—it is this association that plans and organizes the BOP (Best of Panama) competition.
Since the first BOP was held in 1996, each year's competition has brought forth a large number of high-quality coffees, and the subsequent auctions have repeatedly set new price records, connecting Panamanian producers more closely with the international market and boosting their visibility. In 2005, Geisha made a stunning breakthrough with its exceptional flavor and performance, and from then on, this variety officially ascended to stardom.
Beyond Geisha, Panama actually cultivates other coffee varieties as well. BOP has specifically set up a competition category for non-Geisha varieties, called the Varietals category.
Recently, Panama held the 28th Best of Panama competition (BOP) in 2024, which was divided into three categories: Washed Geisha, Natural Geisha, and Varietals.
Washed Geisha
Natural Geisha
Varietals
The champion of this year's Varietals category was awarded to the Chiroso variety from Black Moon Farm, with a score of 94.1.
Black Moon Farm is located in the Boquete region of Chiriquí Province. Boquete enjoys exceptional coffee-growing conditions: coffee trees grow at altitudes of 1,200 to 2,000 meters, with temperatures year-round between 11°C and 27°C—neither too cold nor too hot; the large diurnal temperature difference allows coffee cherries to grow slowly and fully develop their flavors; combined with moderate rainfall, fertile volcanic soil, ample sunshine, and the region's unique microclimate, this terroir consistently produces high-quality coffee.
Boquete is arguably Panama's most prestigious coffee region, home to renowned estates such as Hacienda La Esmeralda, Duncan Estate, and Elida Estate.
Black Moon Farm
Black Moon Farm has only gradually come into the public eye in recent years. Previously, this was a vegetable plantation, but years of cultivation had led to severe soil nutrient depletion.
Later, the estate was taken over by Hunter Tedman, the current president of the Specialty Coffee Association of Panama (SCAP). Hunter was determined to transform it into a coffee-growing estate and to restore the land's ecological environment using bio-friendly methods.
In 2018, Hunter planted the first coffee tree on the estate and began cultivating over 4,000 plants of various species. Some of these plants are specifically for providing shade to the coffee trees, while others are used to enrich the soil fertility, helping the soil recover nutrients naturally, while also providing food for animals and assisting in pollination.
Despite its short history as a new-generation coffee estate, Black Moon quickly made a name for itself in BOP. In 2022, the estate's first harvest of Geisha was entered into the BOP competition, securing 9th place in the Natural Geisha category and 11th in the Washed Geisha category that year.
In addition, the Chiroso variety grown on the estate won second place in the Varietals category in 2022, and this year it claimed the top prize. It can be said that Mr. Hunter Tedman saved this estate with his outstanding agricultural expertise and powerfully promoted the diversification of Panamanian coffee varieties.
The above content is compiled by CoffeeHunters, a coffee news website.
