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…]

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…]

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…]

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 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 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 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…]

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…]

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…]

Panamanian specialty coffee enjoys a global reputation, and the 2023 BOP Washed Group champion, Carmen Estate, set a new record with 96.5 points and created a new high for green bean auctions at $10,005 per kilogram. Located in the Volcán region at an altitude of 1,750 meters, this estate is tied with Elida as the highest-altitude Geisha estate in Panama, with more than 60 years of history and 60% primary forest. Today, Front Street Coffee takes everyone to gain an in-depth understanding of Carmen Estate's terroir conditions, cultivation management, processing methods, and how it has repeatedly achieved excellent results in the BOP competition. [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…]

At the 2024 Panama BOP Geisha auction, Elida Estate's natural Geisha once again set a new record with a sky-high price of $10,013 per pound, claiming the top lot. This century-old renowned estate is not reaching the summit for the first time; it is not only the first double-crown Geisha champion in BOP history, but also second only to Hacienda La Esmeralda in number of wins. Elida Estate was founded in 1918 and has now been passed down to the fourth generation of the Lamastus family. In addition to Elida, the family also owns well-known plots such as El Burro Estate and Luisito Estate, and in recent years has even purchased the high-altitude El Toro Estate. Front Street Coffee cupped this champion bean this time, and it displayed the captivating flavors of pomegranate, peach, white floral notes, and black tea. This article will give you a comprehensive understanding of Elida Estate's history, plot distribution, and flavor 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…]

In Panama, the land that nurtures top-tier Geisha, CARMEN FINCA set a new flavor evaluation record with a score of 96.5 in the 2023 BOP washed category, and subsequently reached a new high for green bean auctions at $10,005 per kilogram. Located between Barú Volcano and the Volcán Valley at an elevation of 1,750 meters, this estate ranks alongside Elida as one of Panama’s two highest Geisha-growing sites. Today, Front Street Coffee takes you into CARMEN FINCA to learn about its terroir, historical heritage, and variety layout, as well as how it continues to deliver outstanding results in the specialty coffee world. [more…]

Panama occupies a pivotal position in the global specialty coffee landscape, and Geisha has made this Central American country famous worldwide. At the 2023 BOP competition, Carmen Estate won the washed group championship with a score of 96.5 for its washed Geisha, and the subsequent global auction set a historic high of US$10,005 per kilogram. Why is this estate able to repeatedly break records? Today, Front Street Coffee takes you into Carmen Estate, from Panama's geography and climate and the three major producing regions of Chiriquí Province, to Carmen Estate's cultivation history, variety structure, and processing techniques, for a comprehensive understanding of the terroir code and quality logic behind this champion estate. [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…]

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…]

In the Volcán region of Panama, there is an estate barely over a decade old that has repeatedly made the BOP list—Finca Auromar. Founded by former Panama Stock Exchange CEO Roberto Brenes, it shot to fame by winning first place in the 2013 BOP washed category with its "Ironman Geisha," and has appeared on the winners' list almost every year since. The estate's name comes from his daughter and granddaughter, and its Geisha lots are often named after family members, such as Camilina and Catalina. This time, Front Street Coffee brings a detailed review of the Catalina natural Geisha and the Soul Plot Catuai, offering a comprehensive look at this top Geisha estate's unique charm—from its history and microclimate to processing methods and cupping flavors. [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…]

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…]