March 2026 Slice of Life, No. 28
This is a high interest post for coffee lovers.

Geisha coffee?

Have you ever heard of Geisha coffee? No?

Neither had I until my son gave me a small bag of coffee from Panama, a gift to him while he was there that he shared with me. As he handed me the bag, he said, “This is the best and the most expensive coffee in the world.”

There is a story behind the best and most expensive coffee in the world.

After receiving the Susi coffee from my son, I began researching it. That’s when I first learned of Geisha coffee. I immediately thought “Japanese.” You know, the geisha girls. But the bag was labeled Panama. So I was skeptical about a connection. A short way into my research, my skepticism was confirmed: Geisha coffee and geisha girls have nothing in common. Gesha coffee originated in the Gori Gesha forest. It was introduced to Panama in the 1960s, and in 2004, Panama launched Geisha coffee to international fame. (Gesha is the spelling used in Africa; Geisha is the spelling used in the Americas.)

Grown at elevations ranging from 4,265 to 7,200 feet in the Panama, this rare coffee is naturally processed with anaerobic fermentation — a processing technique that involves sealing coffee cherries in tanks to force fermentation to create distinct, fruity flavor profiles. Each cup of Geisha coffee has a highly aromatic floral (jasmine) and tropical fruit notes.

Have you heard of coffee cuppings? No?

Well, neither had I. The first time I saw the word cuppings it was on a formal invitation to an elite coffee tasting event. The more I read, the more I saw the word cuppings. I wondered if cuppings were similar to wine tastings. So I searched a bit. They are, indeed. Coffee tastings paired with coffee tours are much like wine tastings and vineyard tours. Cuppings take place primarily at specialty coffee roastery locations, dedicated tasting rooms, and specialty cafes. They offer a guided experience exploring flavor profiles, aromas, and roasting techniques.

Look closely at the bag of Geisha Natural coffee that my son gave me. The labels identify its origin. It is from Lot Terre (a highly prestigious, high-altitude coffee plot), on Elida Estate (part of Lamastus Family Estates), in Boquete (a district and town located within the province of Chiriquí on the slopes of the Baru Volcano), in Panama.

Coffee cuppings held for Elida Estate are by invitation only. Sounds exclusive? It is exclusive. Elida Estate has won numerous “Best of Panama” competitions and has set world records at auctions, selling for over $1,000 per pound.

Have I brewed a cup? No.
I’ve been reading key brewing tips for Gesha coffee.

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Read more about Geisha coffee.

See the location of Elida Estate on Google Maps; be sure to select the “street view” to virtually travel to Elida Estate in Panama..

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