Article: Best of Panama 2026: Geisha and Varietals Together at the Summit of World Coffee
Best of Panama 2026: Geisha and Varietals Together at the Summit of World Coffee
By Cafeistmo Journal
On September 24, the coffee world once again turned its attention to Boquete, Panama, as the Best of Panama 2026 online auction closed.
Organized by the Specialty Coffee Association of Panama (SCAP), this year’s edition also marked the organization’s 30th anniversary — three decades that have helped transform Panama into one of the most celebrated origins in specialty coffee.
The Numbers Behind a Historic Auction
Over 19 hours and 30 minutes of uninterrupted bidding, 83 bidders from 21 countries competed for 50 exceptional coffee lots — 40 Geisha and 10 varietals — totaling 750 kilograms of coffee.
Altogether, the auction received 24,544 bids and generated $3,041,940 in sales, with a weighted average price of $4,055.92 per kilogram.
By the end of the auction, 29 buyers from 11 countries had secured the winning lots.
Why the Best of Panama Matters
The Best of Panama is far more than a commercial event. Year after year, it gives insight into how the international specialty coffee community values Panamanian coffee.
The competition was born three decades ago, when a group of producers sought a way forward during a period of difficult coffee prices. Today, the results speak for themselves.
Panama produces some of the world’s most complex and sought-after coffees — and, increasingly, the story extends far beyond a single variety.
Geisha Once Again Takes Center Stage
The highest-priced coffee of the 2026 auction was Elida Geisha Torre, produced by Lamastus Family Estates.
Its 15-kilogram lot reached an extraordinary $18,004 per kilogram, or $270,060 in total, after attracting 736 bids. JD.com of China purchased the lot.
Close behind was Lérida Waterfall Geisha Natural, grown in Alto Quiel, Boquete. After attracting an intense 1,849 bids, it closed at $13,505 per kilogram, for a total of $202,575.
Third place went to Hacienda La Esmeralda Geisha Natural, which reached $10,024 per kilogram, or $150,360 in total, and Saza Coffee acquired it.
In all, five Geisha lots surpassed $10,000 per kilogram — something that, according to Wilford Lamastus of Lamastus Family Estates, had never occurred within a single edition of the auction.
Varietals Take the Spotlight
But the 2026 story was not only about Geisha.
The auction also featured 10 varietal lots, including traditional varieties such as Bourbon, Catuai, Pacamara and Typica, grown and processed with the same attention to detail associated with Panama’s finest Geishas.
These coffees sold for between $897 and $4,216 per kilogram.
The highlight was a Laurina from Hacienda La Esmeralda, the auction's highest-priced varietal at $4,216 per kilogram.
Only a few years ago, a figure like this would have been almost unimaginable for the category. In 2024, for example, a varietal reaching $1,630 per kilogram was already considered unprecedented.
For a lesser-known variety such as Laurina to exceed $4,000 per kilogram reinforces something we strongly believe at Cafeistmo:
The excellence of Panamanian coffee does not belong to one variety alone. It results from the land, the producer, and the process.
Geisha and Varietals: Best of Panama 2026 at a Glance
| Geisha | Varietals | |
|---|---|---|
| Lots auctioned | 40 | 10 |
| Price range | $1,500–$18,004/kg | $897–$4,216/kg |
| Highest-priced lot | Elida Geisha Torre — Lamastus Family Estates | Laurina — Hacienda La Esmeralda |
| Highest price | $18,004/kg | $4,216/kg |
| Lots above $10,000/kg | 5 | 0 |
Who Was Buying?
China led the auction, accounting for 38% of total sales value across 20 lots.
Japan followed with 16% of the total value and six lots; the United Arab Emirates with 13% and nine lots; and South Korea with 10% and three lots.
Buyers also came from Taiwan, the United States, Panama, Hong Kong, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia and Canada.
It is another indication of just how global the demand for exceptional Panamanian coffee has become — across Geisha and other varieties alike.
Beyond the Record Prices
As Rachel Peterson, Marketing Manager at Hacienda La Esmeralda, observed, the significance of this year’s auction goes beyond the record price achieved by any single lot.
Equally remarkable is the auction's overall performance.
Across all 50 Geisha and varietal lots, the average price exceeded $4,000 per kilogram — a level that illustrates the extraordinary position Panamanian specialty coffee has earned on the world stage.
What This Means for Cafeistmo
Every edition of the Best of Panama reinforces why Cafeistmo chooses to work with some of Panama’s most renowned coffee estates — without limiting ourselves to a single variety.
Our role is one of curation: discovering remarkable coffees from across Panama and bringing these distinctive harvests to coffee lovers around the world.
Always with respect for the origin, the producer, and the land that makes them possible.
