The 28th Best of Panama (BOP) competition and auction of 2024 have successfully concluded. The top lot this year was won by Hacienda La Esmeralda's natural Geisha, fetching a bid price of $10,013 per kilogram (about 71,898 RMB), setting a new world record once again. Meanwhile, Elida Estate's washed Geisha followed closely at $10,002 per kilogram, with prices in the multi-variety category roughly tripling compared to last year. From $2.37 per pound in 2002 to today's five-figure US dollar level, BOP auction prices have continued to climb, and the prices of top-lot pour-over coffee in domestic coffee shops have also risen accordingly. This article will provide a complete overview of this year's competition, the highlights of each category, and the historical context, giving you a comprehensive look at the market trends of Panama's top coffees. [more…]

In 2024, the Best of Panama (BOP) introduced the Best Producer of the Year award for the first time, which was won by the Lamastus family, whose three estates—Elida, El Burro, and Luito—are all located in the Boquete region. This article will guide you through the background of Panama coffee's rise, the development of the BOP competition, and the history, altitude conditions, cultivated varieties, and terroir characteristics of these three estates, along with a brewing and flavor reference for Front Street Coffee's Elida Estate Catuai beans. [more…]

The results of the 2018 Best of Panama (BOP) auction have been officially revealed. The natural Geisha shattered the historical record with a staggering price of $803 per pound, becoming this year's top lot. Elida Estate, with its double victory in both the washed and natural Geisha categories, became the first "double champion" in BOP history. This year's auction not only witnessed the continued dominance of the Geisha variety but also reflected the profound impact of reduced production in the Panama region on the scale of the competition. Front Street Coffee takes you through a comprehensive review of the highlights and changes of this world-class green bean event. [more…]

Although Panama is a small country, it occupies a pivotal position in the world of specialty coffee. This article begins with an overview of Panama as a nation, then traces its coffee-growing history, the three well-known producing areas in Chiriquí Province, its main varieties and processing methods, and focuses on the Specialty Coffee Association of Panama (SCAP) and the Best of Panama (BoP) competition. It also details the family heritage of Hacienda La Catoiva, the flavor differences between the Duncan and Don Hé plots, and the cupping performance of the 2017 BoP auction lot of natural Geisha. Front Street Coffee recommends paying attention to the charm of Geisha from this producing region. [more…]

The Panama BOP (Best of Panama) is the world's first green coffee competition. Since its inception in 1996, it has profoundly advanced the development of specialty coffee, and Hacienda La Esmeralda's Geisha shot to fame in 2004. Hacienda La Esmeralda meticulously grades its Geisha by altitude and plot, forming a three-tier system of Red Label, Green Label, and Blue Label. This article systematically reviews the origins of the BOP competition and auction, the history and plot divisions of Hacienda La Esmeralda, analyzes in detail the definitional differences between Red Label, Green Label, and Blue Label, and includes Front Street Coffee's brewing parameter recommendations and flavor descriptions, providing coffee lovers with a complete guide to Geisha knowledge. [more…]

Beijing time this morning, the results of the BOP "Best of Panama" competition, known as a bellwether for the specialty coffee world, were announced. Hacienda La Esmeralda, which once discovered and promoted the Geisha variety in Panama, once again became the biggest winner, sweeping the top scores in three categories: the Varietal group, the Geisha Natural group, and the Geisha Washed group, with 97 points for Natural Geisha, 98 points for Washed Geisha, and 92.88 points for the Varietal group, earning it the title of Best Producer of the Year. The competition leaderboard also featured many well-known estates such as Sofia, Nugu, Totumas, Elida, San Ignacio, Lerida, Maya, and Dark Moon. With its slender bean shape and floral characteristics, Geisha rewrote the landscape of origin after appearing on the BOP stage in 2004, with auction prices climbing all the way from $21 per pound. In 2024, Elida Natural Geisha even set a new record at $10,013 per kilogram. This article walks you through this year's results, the historical context, and the market significance. [more…]

The results of the 2024 Best of Panama (BOP) competition have been announced. In the Washed Geisha category, Elida Estate's Lorenny Estate claimed the crown with a score of 95.5 points, and this emerging estate under Adela Coffee is rising rapidly. The reason Panamanian coffee has long occupied the pinnacle of the specialty coffee world is not only the legendary flavor of the Geisha variety, but also the decades of promotion by the SCAP association and the BOP competition. This article will guide you through an in-depth understanding of Panama's coffee-growing regions and terroir, the unique microclimate of Boquete, and the cultivation background and estate owner's story of the champion estate Lorenny. It also includes Front Street Coffee's recommendations and purchasing advice for this champion bean. [more…]

Coffee auctions are an important force driving the development of specialty coffee, and Panama's BOP is precisely the benchmark among them. This article begins with the founding background of BOP and its first auction, sorting out how it helped Panamanian coffee emerge from a price crisis, and focuses on the Volcan region, which has performed brilliantly in recent years, introducing the region's altitude, climate, and flavor characteristics. It then delves into Hartmann Estate to learn about its history, forestland protection, and cultivated varieties, and finally brings a brewing flavor description of the Hartmann Geisha anaerobic natural beans purchased by Front Street Coffee, suitable for coffee enthusiasts to systematically understand the context of Panamanian specialty coffee. [more…]

In the 28th Best of Panama (BOP) competition in 2024, the champion of the multi-variety category was won by Hacienda Black Moon's Chiroso variety with a score of 94.1. Hacienda Black Moon is located in Boquete, a famous producing region in Panama. After Hunter Tedman, the current SCAP chairman, took over, he transformed a vegetable plantation with depleted soil into a bio-friendly coffee estate. The first coffee tree was planted in 2018. In 2022, it entered the competition for the first time and won 9th place in the natural Geisha category and 11th place in the washed Geisha category, while Chiroso even won second place in the multi-variety category. This year, it went a step further and won the championship. This article will introduce you to Hacienda Black Moon's transformation process, the terroir advantages of the Boquete producing region, and how the Chiroso variety promotes the development of Panama coffee diversity. Front Street Coffee will also continue to follow the estate's subsequent performance. [more…]

Panama's Hacienda La Esmeralda Geisha coffee beans are world-renowned, but what exactly are the differences between the Red Label, Green Label, and Blue Label? From the perspective of Front Street Coffee, this article systematically sorts out the origins of the BOP (Best of Panama) green bean competition and its auction mechanism, reviews Hacienda La Esmeralda's journey from its establishment in 1964 to its rise to fame with Geisha in 2004, and analyzes in detail the microclimates and grading logic of the estate's three major plots: Jaramillo, Cañas Verdes, and El Velo. At the same time, the article will explain the definitions, altitude ranges, processing methods, and flavor characteristics of the Red Label, Green Label, and Blue Label, and provide brewing parameters recommended by Front Street Coffee, helping coffee enthusiasts fully understand the grading system and key purchasing points of Hacienda La Esmeralda Geisha. [more…]

The Best of Panama (BOP) is the world's first green coffee competition, using blind cupping to conduct sensory evaluation of Panamanian specialty coffee, and it has greatly promoted the specialty cultivation of Panamanian coffee. This article begins with the history of the BOP auction and provides a detailed introduction to the Geisha legend of Hacienda La Esmeralda, including the grading criteria for Red Label, Green Label, and Blue Label, their plot origins, processing methods, and flavor differences, along with Front Street Coffee's brewing parameter recommendations to help coffee enthusiasts gain a comprehensive understanding of the origins and evolution of this top-tier Geisha. [more…]

The third place in the 2024 Best of Panama (BOP) Geisha Washed category was claimed by Nuguo Estate, once again bringing this small farm located in the remote rainforest region of Renacimiento into the spotlight. Nuguo Estate covers only 5 hectares, yet through meticulous cultivation of the Geisha variety and rigorous processing, it has repeatedly achieved outstanding results on the BOP stage, including the record-breaking top lot price in 2021. This article will guide you through the terroir conditions of Panama's coffee-producing regions, introduce the Gallardo family and the heritage story of Nuguo Estate, and review its BOP competition results over the years. At the same time, Front Street Coffee also brings related product recommendations for coffee enthusiasts to taste and reference. [more…]

In the 2024 28th Best of Panama (BOP) competition, Hacienda Black Moon's Chiroso submission scored 94.1 points to take the top spot in the multi-variety category, continuing this variety's impressive run on the international stage in recent years. Chiroso originates from Urrao in Antioquia, Colombia, and won the 2014 Colombia COE; it has since gradually been introduced to Panama and elsewhere. Its genetic background was once mistakenly thought to be related to Caturra, but research later confirmed that it is related to Ethiopian landraces, though it is not a natural mutation of Caturra. Chiroso beans are pointed and elongated, with prominent floral and fruity notes and complex acidity; its flavor is often compared to Geisha, with a fuller body. This article will sort through the variety's origin, spread, plant characteristics, and flavor performance, and introduce its roasting potential, providing coffee lovers with a complete variety profile. [more…]

Duncan Estate in the Boquete production region of Panama is a specialty coffee estate under the Kotowa family with a history of over a hundred years. With its exceptional geographical conditions and strict ecological management, it has become a frequent winner at BOP auctions. This article provides a comprehensive introduction to Duncan Estate's production region background, growing environment, processing techniques, and award history, with a focus on analyzing the flavor characteristics of its Geisha White Honey processed coffee beans. At the same time, Front Street Coffee has also acquired the estate's Natural Caturra, presenting through medium-light roasting and cupping a layered profile of floral notes, candied fruit, and fermented fruit nuances. Whether you are a Geisha enthusiast or a Caturra fan, you can experience the unique charm of Panamanian specialty coffee. [more…]

Is Geisha coffee actually good? It traveled from the wild forests of Ethiopia to the world stage, enduring a long silence before finally making a stunning debut at Hacienda La Esmeralda in Panama. This article traces the discovery and spread of Geisha, compares the flavor characteristics of two renowned origins—Hacienda La Esmeralda and Gesha Village—reviews its price climb from $21 to $803 per pound, and introduces its glorious moments in the BOP competition. Front Street Coffee takes you deep into this highly sought-after coffee variety. [more…]

A few days ago, the much-anticipated online bidding event of BOP (Best of Panama) in the coffee industry came to an end. At this top-level auction that attracts the attention of coffee lovers worldwide, the Geisha from the renowned Hacienda La Esmera [more…]

As a representative of Panamanian specialty coffee, Elida Estate has won numerous awards in the Best of Panama (BOP) competition in recent years, with its washed and natural Geisha each taking first place in their respective categories. This article takes you deep into Elida Estate's terroir, lot management, and the sources of its unique flavors, and shares in detail the pour-over parameters and step-by-step method for Front Street Coffee's Elida Estate Natural Geisha. At the same time, we will also introduce two coffees from the estate, Catuai and Typica, so you can experience the diverse charm of a champion estate at once. Whether you are a seasoned enthusiast or a beginner pour-over brewer, you can gain practical brewing ideas from it. [more…]

The results of the 26th Best of Panama (BOP) green bean competition in 2022 have been announced. The champion of the Washed Geisha category was won by Aurora Estate, while the crown in the Natural Geisha category went to Guarumo Estate under the Hartmann family. Front Street Coffee had already acquired the 2022 harvest Guarumo Estate Natural Geisha coffee beans before the competition. This article will take you into a deeper understanding of the estate's historical origins, cultivation philosophy, and the flavor performance and brewing suggestions of this champion-level Geisha. From the Hartmann family's story of European immigration, to Guarumo Estate's impressive results in the BOP competition for two consecutive years, and then to Front Street Coffee's light-roast strategy and pour-over parameters, this article will help you understand the complete picture of this charming Natural Geisha. [more…]

Sophia Estate is one of the highest-altitude Geisha plantations in Panama, founded by Willem Boot in 2008. Having endured extreme environmental and climatic challenges, it ultimately won the BOP competition twice. This article will guide you through the development history of Sophia Estate, the flavor characteristics of its Geisha coffee, and Front Street Coffee's roasting approach and brewing parameters for this natural Geisha, providing coffee enthusiasts with a complete reference from origin to cup. [more…]

Every year during green coffee competition season, the coffee world enjoys a wave of excitement, and the Best of Panama (BOP) is undoubtedly the stage that Geisha lovers watch most closely. Geisha was discovered in the forests of Ethiopia, then made its way to Costa Rica's CATIE where it was labeled T2722, and later blossomed in Panama—all after a long period of obscurity. In 2004, Hacienda La Esmeralda won the BOP championship with Geisha and set a new auction record, turning this variety into the center of everyone's attention. Panamanian Geisha is mainly the green-tip variety, with outstanding green bean grades and flavor performance far surpassing other producing regions. Front Street Coffee's bean list brings together Geisha from Ethiopia, Costa Rica, Colombia, and Panama, with Panamanian estates including Hacienda La Esmeralda and Finca Deborah. This article will take you through the variety's history, the terroir of its producing regions, and the specific brewing parameters for Front Street Coffee's Deborah Savage series, giving you a comprehensive understanding of the charm of Panamanian Geisha. [more…]