What is the Geisha coffee varietal?
Geisha, sometimes spelled Gesha, is a coffee varietal originally from the Gesha forest in Ethiopia. It was introduced to Central America in the mid-20th century, but only began to gain widespread attention after farms in Panama, particularly Hacienda La Esmeralda, showcased its exceptional cup quality in the early 2000s.
Geisha trees are delicate and low-yielding, but they produce some of the most distinctive and celebrated coffees in the world. In the cup, Geisha is renowned for its clarity, floral aromatics (often compared to jasmine or bergamot), and tea-like structure. These qualities have made it a consistent winner in Cup of Excellence and other competitions, as well as one of the highest-priced coffees at auction.
While most closely associated with Panama, Geisha is now grown in many producing countries, with quality heavily influenced by terroir, altitude, and processing.