Introduction:The results of the 2024 BOP (Best of Panama) competition have been officially announced. Hacienda La Esmeralda, the estate that once introduced the Geisha variety to the world, has claimed the championship once again, securing the highest scores in multiple categories including the Varietals Division, Geisha Natural Division, and Geisha Washed Division. Moreover, the Geisha Washed Division achieved an outstanding score of 98 points, making it the Grower of the Year with the highest score. This year’s competition not only showcased the strength of top-tier coffee farms but also saw the Geisha auction price potentially surpassing the $10,000 per kilogram mark for the first time. Let’s take a closer look at the highlights of the results, the rise of the Geisha variety, and the key factors behind the market trends.
This morning Beijing time, the highly anticipated BOP (Best of Panama) competition, which draws global attention from the specialty coffee industry, announced its results. Hacienda La Esmeralda from Panama, the estate credited with successfully discovering and promoting the Geisha variety, shone brightly once again this year by sweeping the highest scores in three categories: the Varietals Division, the Geisha Natural Division, and the Geisha Washed Division, achieving remarkable scores of 92.88, 97, and 98 respectively, firmly securing the title of Grower of the Year.
In addition to Hacienda La Esmeralda, the list also includes many other renowned estates, such as Finca Sofia, Nuguo, Mount Totumas, Lamastus Elida Estate, Los Cenizos, Finca Lerida, Maya Coffee Estate, and Dark Moon Estate, showcasing the diverse strengths of Panama’s specialty coffee.
In terms of individual category performances, the Geisha Washed Division was topped by Hacienda La Esmeralda with an impressive 98 points. The Geisha Natural Division was also claimed by the same estate with a score of 97, while the Varietals Division saw their SL28/SB28 variety (likely a typographical reference to a specific Bourbon-type cultivar, here translated contextually as “slender Bourbon”) secure 92.88 points. Other strong contenders included Los Cenizos, which scored 96.25 in the Geisha Natural Division, Finca Sofia, which earned 95.75 in the Natural Division and 96.25 in the Washed Division, and Nuguo, which achieved a commendable 95.25 in the Varietals Division.
The reason the Geisha variety stands out lies in its unique slender bean shape and distinctive floral aroma profile. Since its debut on the BOP stage in 2004 and its promotion by Hacienda La Esmeralda, the variety has not only gained immense fame but has also completely reshaped the landscape of coffee origins in Panama and around the world. Looking back, 20 years ago, the emphasis on coffee flavor was far less than it is today. The concept of specialty coffee only began to take shape in 1974, the Specialty Coffee Association of America (SCAA) was established in 1982, and the Specialty Coffee Association of Panama (SCAP) was not founded until the early 1990s.
For over a century, the coffee market has primarily focused on shortening the supply chain and reducing transaction costs to increase crop prices. However, as consumer demand for flavor has grown and coffee farmers have re-evaluated the value of their beans, the Specialty Coffee Association of Panama and the Specialty Coffee Association of America jointly launched the BOP competition. Through a model featuring estate-hosted events, professional judging panels, and buyer auctions, the competition not only helps top-tier coffees stand out but has also successfully propelled Panamanian coffee onto the international stage.
The Geisha variety originated in the Gesha region of Ethiopia. In 2004, it was first introduced to the BOP competition by the Peterson family of the renowned estate, where it was sold for $21 per pound. Just ten years later, the auction price had soared to $350 per pound, making it one of the most sought-after coffee varieties in Central and South America. In 2024, a Geisha Natural lot from Lamastus Elida Estate scored 95.13 points to win the auction championship, setting a historic record of $10,013 per kilogram—perhaps signaling that the Geisha auction price is on the verge of surpassing the $10,000 per kilogram threshold for the first time. For coffee enthusiasts looking to experience the unique floral layers of Geisha at home, it is recommended to start with the available everyday blends or batches from well-known estates, making it an excellent choice for both entry-level and advanced tasting.
The above content is compiled by CoffeeHunters, a coffee news website.
