It is quite normal for people to have a bottle of wine of greater value which they don’t open until something extraordinary happens. When true coffee fans want to enjoy themselves, they don’t reach for expensive wine. Instead, they take out a sack of the most luxurious, highest priced coffee beans they can locate.
Enter Gesha coffee. This is the best kind of coffee, and Bean & Bean Coffee Roasters’ Gesha beans are a favorite choice amongst those who are passionate about this distinctive beverage. But what is it exactly? What makes this unique coffee so distinctive, and is it worth the expensive cost? Continue reading for the solutions to these queries and others!
Are They Gesha or Geisha Coffee Beans?
Before we get into anything else regarding Bean & Bean’s Panama-grown Gesha coffee, we should probably discuss the proper name for this type of espresso beverage. Is it Gesha or Geisha?
Richard Whalley discovered this particular java in the 1930s in the Gori Gesha forests of southwestern Ethiopia, and aptly named it after the area in which it originated. At some point in time, the title of the Ethiopian coffee plant got messed up in written records, making them in demand as Geisha coffee plants.
If you’re familiar with Japanese Geishas, then you can see why people were a bit perplexed about this mistake. Many have linked the certain type of coffee bean to Japanese Geisha dancers due to the extra letter added to its name, though the two are not related. It is baffling to note that a number of coffee containers, even from reliable and renowned coffee suppliers, are decorated with pictures of a Geisha artist, when in fact it is not related to the singular type of coffee in the bag.
Our aim is to be as precise, correct, and courteous as attainable. For this article, we will steer clear of using incorrect spelling. Bean & Bean’s product label is accurate, and when discussing this particular item, it is essential to stay in line with its container. Nevertheless, you likely will not be amazed if you come across other companies, websites, or coffee fanatics utilizing the technically inaccurate name “Geisha beans”.
The Origin of Gesha Coffee
In the 1930s, the Gesha coffee bean plant was taken from the Gori Gesha forest in Ethiopia and transferred to Costa Rica in the 1950s. In 2004, Price and Daniel Peterson created a stir by entering their Panamanian Gesha beans into the ‘Best of Panama’ coffee competition, which is highly prestigious, similar to the Academy Awards in the coffee industry.
Price and Daniel Peterson, who acquired ownership of the widely-recognized Hacienda La Esmeralda coffee farm in Panama in 1996, were awarded first place in the contest. The fame of Gesha beans has only gone up since then.
What Does Gesha Coffee Taste Like?
Experts in the coffee community unanimously agree that Gesha coffee has a level of taste that cannot be matched.
The SCA, which is considered to be a major authority on coffee quality standards, gave Gesha coffee an extraordinary taste rating of 94/100, gaining it a reputation as one of the most scrumptious varieties of coffee available. (For context, the typical single-origin specialty coffee ranks 80+.)
Many have attempted to explain the flavor and aroma one might experience when drinking a cup of Gesha coffee. It is often said that this material has a distinctive sweet flowery taste, including fruity and citrusy aromas. Some claim that the taste of Gesha has subtle touches of apricot, mango, cherry, rose, juniper, lavender, bergamot, and cacao. Everyone is in agreement that the jasmine scent of this thing is extraordinary.
It can be difficult to think of a drink holding such a complex combination of flowery and fruit-like tastes, however that is only suitable for a bean considered to be more intricate than any other type of coffee. Gesha coffee’s extraordinary flavor has made it popular among coffee enthusiasts as evidenced by the multitude of words they use to describe it. Regardless of the terminology, many would concur that Gesha coffee has remarkable clarity and gentle acidity, which enhances the cup’s fine taste.
The intense flavor that Gesha coffee aficionados fawn over is a consequence of the way in which these beans are cultivated and gathered. The Gesha coffee plant thrives in unique environmental factors. The majority of the crop is grown on Volcan Baru, which is the tallest peak of the country located 1,500 meters above the land found in the Boquete Panama region. The land common in this area consists of hills, mountains, rivers, and valleys, and the impact of volcanic soils, breezes that create a misty atmosphere, and chilly nights make Gesha espresso’s unique taste.
The Most Demanding Coffee Plant
Raising the Gesha coffee plant is a tough job, as it requires more work than the typical coffee trees. The Gesha coffee bean cherry develops on a plant that is low in output, requires a lot of attention, and is responsive to altitude. The leaves of the plant are extended in length and are liable to illnesses and fungus related to coffee and require much time for attention before growers can collect the yield. Gesha coffee plants need to be cultivated over a period of 8 years rather than the typical period of 4-5 years necessary to grow other coffee varieties.
In addition, the coffee produced by these plants which is harvested by local people at higher altitudes needs to be left to dry for over a week! This career necessitates a huge commitment, however, it’s worth the effort because successful coffee farmers fill the cup of java lovers all over the world.
The Most Expensive Coffee Beans in the World?
Sadly, those delicious flavors will probably just have to be imagined by average coffee drinkers as Gesha beans are not readily available. Coffee enthusiasts who are particular about the quality of their coffee will have to pay a significant amount of money to obtain it.
At the 2004 Best of Panama coffee auction, the price for Gesha joe was an unbelievable $803 for every pound. However, this is not the record amount for this type of bean. In 2019, Elida Geisha Coffee’s Green Tip Natural blend had an incredible price tag of $1,029 per pound!
Due to their increasing recognition and rarity, specialty coffee retailers must compete in auctions to acquire Gesha beans. Sadly for the proprietors of these coffee shops, this item is popular enough that it is sold out quickly, despite its considerable cost.
There is a huge demand for Gesha coffee, however due to a limited supply from the plants, it is one of the costliest coffees out there and is on the same level as civet coffee and Black Ivory Coffee. In certain areas, it is being sold for a noteworthy amount of $110 each cup! Don’t worry, there are still some locations where you can get a cup of Gesha coffee without paying a fortune. In Panama, a cup of coffee goes for approximately $9, meanwhile, certain coffee shops in New York offer it for nearly $18.
Despite the cost due to its unique flavor and high popularity, lovers of coffee are eager to experience this particular kind of coffee because of its symbolic meaning. Gesha coffee is seen as the epitome of excellence and the strenuous production process it requires is a reflection of the work put in to create an amazing cup of coffee.
If you have been intrigued by Gesha beans, then continue to investigate the world of premium coffee by learning more about civet coffee, which is also known as cat poop coffee, here. Since this product has a much higher cost than Gesha coffee, the typical coffee lover would not incorporate it into their typical morning routine, yet they might gain some knowledge to pass on to their friends who also love coffee.
About Bean & Bean Coffee Roasters
Bean & Bean Coffee Company is no unfamiliar figure in the gourmet coffee arena. Rachel and Jiyoon Han, a mother and daughter pair, have operated their business since 2008.
The goal of these global coffee purchasers and Q Arabica Graders (who regard themselves as “specialists of espresso”), is to diminish the hole between the genders in the specialty coffee industry by attempting to acquire as much java produced and sold by women as they can. At present, the majority of the organization’s total supply of coffee is created by female employees.
Bean & Bean is passionate not only about achieving fairness and equality between genders in the coffee trade. The firm also helps in conservation activities to save sloths from destruction of forests through contributing a part of its net revenue from online sales to The Sloth Institute.
A Bean & Bean Panama Gesha Coffee Review
Is Bean & Bean Panama Gesha any good? How much does it cost? Do you have to prepare cold brew coffee in a different way than regular coffee? Continue reading to uncover the solutions to these inquiries and beyond!
Origin
Bean & Bean’s coffee is just like other Gesha/Geisha coffees from Panama. Coffee beans for this specific brand come from a single source – the famed Janson Coffee Farm in Panama. This farm, founded in 1941 by Carl Axel Janson from Sweden, is known for its production of superb arabica coffee on a consistent basis.
The agriculturalists at this estate steer clear of utilizing any dangerous pesticides or weed killers while cultivating the coffee bean plant. By eliminating synthetic substances from the soil and incorporating enzyme microbes, a healthy nutrient equilibrium can be maintained. When the essential nutrients reach the coffee plant, there is a greater probability of producing a tastier cup of coffee.
Taste
What is the response to the query concerning the flavor of this coffee? You must come to your own conclusion about whether or not Gesha is a good coffee varietal, however many coffee drinkers think it is excellent so it is likely to be of high quality. At the very least, the coffee you make will be better than the subpar gas station coffee you drink on the way to work or the inferior coffee beans you found in the bargain bin of a grocery store.
A blend of white sugar and black tea adds a delightful flavor to the beverage, making it an excellent way to kick off your day with a pleasant taste. Don’t fret; while this coffee has a discernible sweetness, it is not unbearable or overly strong.
It is advised to drink this particular Gesha coffee without milk or cream in order to savor the intricate flavors it possesses. Some people think it has a delicate, tea-like character that makes it unfit to be mixed with milk.
At Roasty, we can’t conclusively declare that the beans from Janson Lot 290 are supreme, as we have not tried all Gesha coffees available in the gourmet market. The individuals running the 2020 Best of Panama coffee auction and the 2019 Panama Coffee Weekend were impressed with the coffee. It won the top award at both coffee competitions and was acknowledged by the USA Good Food Awards of 2020.
Yet, snagging an accolade at a coffee rivalry doesn’t essentially mean a commodity will agree with everyone’s taste buds; the only real approach to find out if the taste of this coffee fits your likings is to try it yourself.
Price
Panama Geisha coffee can often be quite expensive, much more so than a sack of grounds from stores such as Target, Publix, or Walmart. For certain coffee fans, the high price of certain types of coffee may be a major obstacle, but if you’re willing to shell out the money and want to see if Gesha is as good as people claim, then do yourself a favour and buy some.
If you don’t have a big budget for coffee or don’t care about the quality of coffee in your cup and only desire the caffeine, you’ll likely be satisfied with something that doesn’t cost too much.
Bean & Bean Coffee Company Panama Gesha Alternative
Hacienda la Esmeralda Panamanian Geisha Coffee
Rather than going for discounted coffee beans, you could opt for beans from Hacienda La Esmeralda, renowned as one of the most renowned Gesha growing regions. It’s up to you, but if it were our decision, we would go with the second option.
Grand Reserve coffee beans sourced from Hacienda La Esmeralda can be found in the Boquete part of Chiriqui, located in south-western Panama. The Petersons, who acquired the farm in 1967, still remain active in the production process. This Panamanian Geisha coffee has been known to be one of the best coffees around the world for two decades, making it a perfect choice if you are looking to try the classic taste that has made Gesha/Geisha beans so popular.
You can buy pre-roasted beans from Panama Hacienda La Esmeralda in either medium or dark roast, or if you’d like to roast them yourself, you can buy unroasted green beans.