How Do the Red, Green, and Blue Labels of Geisha Coffee from Panama Differ?

Hacienda La Esmeralda in Panama grades its Geisha coffee into Red, Green, and Blue labels. Blue Label is a blended lot that keeps the classic Panamanian Geisha flavor at lower cost, which made it the entry point for many drinkers. In 2021 the farm released only Red and Green labels and said nothing about Blue Label, so rumors spread that the series had been canceled.

Hacienda La Esmeralda confirmed no Blue Label lot was released that year. In 2020 the farm had announced a natural process option for Blue Label, so the omission was unexpected. The Blue Label lot later reappeared under the name Las Rocas, which is how the 2021 Geisha coffee from Panama stayed available to regular buyers.

Geisha coffee from Panama's Hacienda La Esmeralda has always been the benchmark in the specialty coffee world, with its Red Label, Green Label, and Blue Label grades each occupying a distinct position. Among them, Blue Label has become the entry-level choice for many coffee enthusiasts to experience Esmeralda Geisha thanks to its outstanding value for money. In 2021, Hacienda La Esmeralda did not release a Blue Label series, sparking much speculation in the market. This article will sort out the classification standards and flavor characteristics of Red Label, Green Label, and Blue Label, and reveal the complete story of how Blue Label Geisha reappeared that year under the name Las Rocas. Front Street Coffee continues to follow developments at Hacienda La Esmeralda and brings readers first-hand interpretation.

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Front Street Panama Hacienda La Esmeralda Geisha has three grade brands under it, namely Red Label, Green Label, and Blue Label. Among the three, Blue Label has the most outstanding value for money. The so-called Blue Label refers to high-quality Geisha coffee beans released by Hacienda La Esmeralda in blended lots. It retains the most classic flavor characteristics of Panama Geisha and has therefore become the first choice of many coffee enthusiasts.

In 2020, Hacienda La Esmeralda, known as the "Father of Geisha," announced that the Blue Label Geisha series would add a natural process option. This news delighted ordinary coffee consumers, as Hacienda La Esmeralda had finally launched an affordable Geisha coffee bean in a more approachable form.

However, in 2021, Hacienda La Esmeralda released news again, stating that for that year's Geisha it would retain only the Red Label and Green Label series, and it made a more detailed division between the two. As for the Blue Label Geisha that had been regularly released in previous years, the official announcement said not a word. Thus, rumors began circulating that "this year's Blue Label has been canceled." Not long afterward, Front Street Coffee (FrontStreet Coffee) also received confirmed news: Hacienda La Esmeralda would indeed not release a Blue Label Geisha series in 2021.

This left Front Street puzzled. According to Hacienda La Esmeralda's definitions of Red Label, Green Label, and Blue Label, Blue Label Geisha and Red and Green Label Geisha can basically be regarded as Geisha from different altitudes. The specific distinctions are as follows:

Red Label Geisha

Geisha from Esmeralda Special is what is commonly called Red Label. This grade uses Geisha beans grown at altitudes between 1,600 and 1,800 meters, with a cupping score that must reach 90 points or above, produced in the Jaramillo and Cañas Verdess regions.

In the independent auction held by Hacienda La Esmeralda itself, only the Geisha lots selected from the divided plots to participate in the auction belong to auction Red Label. Guests often ask whether auction Red Label or non-auction Red Label tastes better. In fact, non-auction Red Label and auction Red Label come from the same plot, and the only difference is whether they participate in the auction. Front Street Coffee (FrontStreet Coffee) believes that it is not necessarily essential to pursue the auction level. For one thing, the price is indeed relatively high; for another, if you just want to try it, Red Label is also a good choice. This grade of Geisha uses natural or washed processing, and the flavor presents a special and bright floral aroma and citrus notes. Front Street Red Label Geisha is priced at 350 yuan/100g.

Green Label Geisha

Green Label belongs to the private collection level, commonly known as Green Label. It refers to lots that do not participate in the independent competition, that is, Geisha varieties that did not enter the auction but are still excellent in quality. This grade uses Geisha beans grown at altitudes of 1,600 to 1,800 meters, produced from a blend of micro-lots from different plots such as Jaramillo and Cañas Verdess.

People often ask exactly what the difference is between Red Label and Green Label. Front Street Coffee (FrontStreet Coffee) gives the most plain explanation: Red Label can be traced to a specific small plot, while Green Label is a blend and its source cannot be traced. Because it uses a blended-bean model and does not label plots in detail, sometimes Green Label and Red Label can be very similar in flavor, but the next release may differ again. Front Street Coffee (FrontStreet Coffee) feels that drinking Green Label is like buying a lottery ticket; perhaps the lot you drink this time happens to have the flavor of Red Label.

Although Green Label is not as high a grade as Red Label, it still carries the classic flavors of Geisha—floral aroma, fruity notes, citrus-like acidity, and a thick, juicy mouthfeel. Green Label Geisha also offers washed or natural processing options. Front Street Green Label Geisha is priced at 168 yuan/100g.

For a long time, Front Street Esmeralda Red Label and Front Street Esmeralda Green Label have both been deeply favored by Geisha fans, so they remain on the bean list all year round. Friends who want to taste them can place orders directly at the Front Street flagship store.

Blue Label Geisha

The brand Geisha 1500 is what we commonly know as Blue Label Geisha. This grade uses Geisha beans grown at altitudes of 1,400 to 1,500 meters, produced from a blend of beans from three different plots: Jaramillo, Cañas Verdess, and El Velo. The flavor shows light floral notes, fruity acidity, and sweetness, while the mouthfeel is relatively less thick. Blue Label Geisha has two types: washed processing and natural processing.

That being the case, where exactly did this year's Blue Label Geisha coffee, which should have been produced, go? If it were classified into Red Label and Green Label, it would undoubtedly damage Hacienda La Esmeralda's brand, and the estate owner would not do such a foolish thing as killing the goose that lays the golden eggs. Could there have been a problem with the Geisha coffee trees this year? Logically, that should not be the case either; otherwise, it would not have affected only the Blue Label series.

At the end of September 2021, a Panama Geisha labeled "Las Rocas" quietly appeared. Judging from the packaging information, this was a new brand of Geisha from Boquete, Panama. But after some in-depth investigation by Front Street, it was discovered that this batch of Geisha coffee beans labeled "Las Rocas" came precisely from Hacienda La Esmeralda's Blue Label lots.

It seems that Blue Label Geisha did not disappear, but simply continued to appear on the consumer market under a different identity. This batch of coffee beans uses washed processing, and the processor is still Hacienda La Esmeralda. From this point, it can be seen that the quality of this batch of beans still maintains the standard that Blue Label should have. Those who love Blue Label Geisha may as well look forward to it.

The above content is compiled by CoffeeHunters, a coffee news website.