Explore the Geisha Coffee Varietal

Geisha (Gesha) Coffee: The Crown Jewel of Specialty Coffee in 2025

Varietal: Geisha (also known as Gesha)
Origin: Gesha, Ethiopia
Altitude Preference: Thrives above 1,500 metres above sea level
Type: Ethiopian heirloom
Commonly Grown In: Ethiopia, Panama, Costa Rica, Colombia, and increasingly across Latin America and Asia
Fruit Colour: Predominantly red
Fruit Size: Standard
Leaf Shape: Long, narrow, and pointed
Plant Structure: Tall, slender, with spindly branches

A Storied Past: From Ethiopia to the World

The Geisha varietal traces its roots back to the Gesha region of southwestern Ethiopia, where it was first identified in the 1930s. It was introduced to Central America via Costa Rica in the 1950s, contrary to the popular belief that Panama was its first stop outside Africa.

Initially overlooked due to its low yield and fragile structure, Geisha didn’t gain traction until 2004, when Hacienda La Esmeralda in Panama stunned the coffee world at the Best of Panama (BoP) competition. Their Geisha lot fetched over $20 per pound, setting a new benchmark for green coffee prices and catapulting the varietal into the global spotlight.

Illustrated diagram showing the lineage of Geisha (Gesha) coffee, beginning in Gesha, Ethiopia in the 1930s, spreading to Costa Rica in the 1950s, then Panama in the 1960s, and later expanding to Colombia, Mexico, Thailand, China, and Yemen. Includes icons of coffee plants, maps, and directional arrows.

2025: A Record-Breaking Year for Geisha

Fast forward to 2025, and Geisha continues to dominate headlines. At this year’s Best of Panama, Hacienda La Esmeralda once again made history, scoring an unprecedented 98 points for its Washed Geisha and 97 points for its Natural Geisha.

Five international judges even awarded a perfect 100-point score to the Washed lot - an extraordinary first in the competition’s 29-year history.

These coffees were grown on El Velo, a prized plot in the Boquete highlands, where Panama’s Geisha revolution began. The upcoming SCAP auction on 6 August 2025 is expected to see record-breaking bids, potentially surpassing the $13,518/kg mark set in 2024.

Panamanian Geisha vs. Ethiopian Gesha

Though they share a genetic lineage, Panamanian Geisha and Ethiopian Gesha offer distinct experiences in the cup - shaped by terroir, processing, and cultivation practices.

Feature	Panamanian Geisha	Ethiopian Gesha
Origin	Descended from Ethiopian T2722, introduced via Costa Rica in the 1950s	Native to the Gori Gesha Forest, Ethiopia
Altitude	1,500–2,000+ m.a.s.l.	1,800–2,200+ m.a.s.l.
Flavour Profile	Intensely floral (jasmine, bergamot), tropical fruit, tea-like body	Bright citrus, florals, stone fruit, often more wild and complex
Processing	Washed and Natural dominate, with experimental methods emerging	Mostly Washed, with some Natural and Anaerobic
Cup Quality	Highly consistent, clean, and elegant	Diverse and complex, sometimes unpredictable
Market Value	Among the most expensive coffees globally	Increasingly valued, but less hyped than Panama
Cultivation	Grown in controlled micro-lots, often competition-grade	Grown in semi-forest systems, often heirloom blends

Timeline: The Rise of Geisha Coffee

1931 – Discovered in the Gori Gesha Forest, Ethiopia.
1953 – Introduced to Costa Rica via CATIE.
1960s – Planted in Panama, initially overlooked.
2004 – Hacienda La Esmeralda wins Best of Panama with Geisha (94.1 points).
2007–2015 – Geisha spreads to Colombia, Guatemala, Honduras, and beyond.
2018 – Finca Elida Geisha sells for over $1,000/lb at auction.
2024 – Record price of $13,518/kg set at Best of Panama.
2025 – Hacienda La Esmeralda scores 98 points, with five judges awarding a perfect 100.

What Makes Geisha So Special?

Geisha is revered for its complex and delicate flavour profile, often described as:

Floral: Jasmine, rose, bergamot
Fruity: Cherry, raspberry, stone fruit
Sweet: Honey, panela, and tropical fruit notes
Clean and tea-like body with a lingering finish

Its sensitivity to terroir means that even small changes in altitude, soil, and climate can dramatically affect the cup profile. While it can technically grow anywhere along the coffee belt, only high-altitude farms with ideal microclimates, like those in Panama’s Boquete or Ethiopia’s highlands, can coax out its full potential

Challenges in Cultivation

Geisha is not for the faint-hearted farmer. It’s:

Low-yielding
Tall and spindly, making it vulnerable to wind damage
Susceptible to pests, though it shows some resistance to coffee leaf rust
Labour-intensive, requiring careful pruning and selective harvesting

Despite these challenges, its sky-high market value and prestige among coffee aficionados make it a worthwhile investment for many producers.

Beyond Panama: A Global Geisha Renaissance

While Panama remains the gold standard, Geisha is now being cultivated across the globe, from Colombia and Costa Rica to Thailand, China, and even Yemen. Ethiopia, its birthplace, is also seeing a resurgence of interest, with farms near Gesha reintroducing the varietal and entering it into competitions like the Cup of Excellence

This global expansion is helping to diversify flavour expressions and democratise access to this once ultra-exclusive coffee.

Final Thoughts: Is Geisha Worth the Hype?

For many in the specialty coffee world, Geisha represents the pinnacle of what coffee can be - a sensory experience that borders on the transcendent. Whether you’re a seasoned cupper or a curious newcomer, tasting a well-brewed Geisha is a must.

But be warned: once you’ve tasted its floral elegance and fruit-forward clarity, it’s hard to go back.

Looking for something remarkable? Type below to search our collections

Added to your cart!

Product Name

Oops

Unfortunately, We could not complete that action.