For some, coffee is a simple morning necessity. For others, it's a passion that stirs them awake. While many are content with a basic cup of joe, true enthusiasts view each rare bean as a hidden gem worth traversing the globe to taste. If you thought your coffee expenditure peaked with that fancy latte from your neighborhood café, prepare for a reality check. In today's world, where coffee has ascended to an art form, aficionados are ready to part with jaw-dropping sums for the perfect cup – often exceeding the cost of a high-end bottle of wine.
The Best of Panama is an annual competition designed to identify and celebrate Panama's finest coffee. It culminates in a high-profile auction.
August 7 might seem unremarkable to most, but for coffee devotees, it marked a momentous occasion. The coffee world converged at the Best of Panama – an elite auction showcasing the country's finest beans and producers. This year's event set a new benchmark when the prestigious Elida Geisha Natural Torre coffee from the Lamastus Family Estates commanded an astonishing $10,013 per kilogram ($4,541 per pound).
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Following the auction, the estate took to Instagram, expressing their gratitude: "We extend our thanks to all bidders, with special appreciation to the auction winner, Saza Coffee from Japan. This recognition fills us with excitement and humility." They further reflected, "A century of dedication, spanning four generations committed to this product, has culminated in this remarkable achievement with a company 8,078 miles away in Japan. It's beyond our wildest dreams. Words fail to convey our gratitude on behalf of the Lamastus family and Panama. The $10,013 per kilogram price tag isn't just a record for coffee – it's a testament to the value prestigious global coffee companies place on our Lamastus estate beans."
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What makes this coffee so extraordinary?
The Best of Panama is an annual competition designed to identify and celebrate Panama's finest coffee. It culminates in a high-profile auction.
Established in 2004, the competition aims to spotlight Panama's premier coffee, with particular emphasis on the Geisha variety, renowned for its exceptional quality and distinctive flavor profile. The competition subjects each entry to rigorous evaluation, assessing taste, aroma, and overall quality. The winning coffee is then offered at an exclusive auction, drawing buyers from across the globe eager to secure these elite beans.
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Elida Geisha Natural Torre belongs to the Geisha variety, widely regarded as one of the most sought-after and expensive coffees worldwide. While the Geisha variety traces its roots to Ethiopia, it now thrives primarily in Panama and other South American nations. Celebrated for its complex flavor palette – encompassing notes of fruit, flowers, and spices – and its unparalleled quality, Geisha has earned a devoted following. The Elida plantation in Panama stands as a beacon for cultivating this prestigious variety. Its reputation for producing exceptional coffee has elevated its products to treasured status in the global coffee market. The coffee's hefty price tag reflects both the meticulous care invested in its cultivation and processing and the intense demand it commands among connoisseurs.
