As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. When you use our links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more.
Waking up in the morning and having a cup of coffee is a norm everyone follows these days. Coffee is a product that is easily accessible and relatively affordable when energizing yourself for the day.
However, have you ever heard of Geisha coffee beans?
Have you wondered what Geisha coffee is? What makes Geisha coffee beans so unique? How much does it cost per pound?
Fundamental Pros and Cons of Geisha Coffee
Some people find Geisha coffee challenging to pronounce. Did you know Geisha coffee is also one of the most expensive coffees worldwide? Regardless, Geisha coffee is purported to have a unique taste that every coffee-lover is dying to have.
This article will cover the hype about “Geisha Coffee.”
To Buy or Not to Buy: The Geisha Coffee Bean Question
Is the hype worth it or not? Should you spend your hard-earned money on Geisha coffee beans or not?
This free cheat sheet will improve your coffee brew by providing quick information on brew ratio, grind size, optimal brewing time, and more.
What is Geisha Coffee?
Geisha coffee is a coffee bean that originated in Ethiopia. Later, it was introduced into Panama, where it grew in popularity. Today, Geisha coffee is known as one of the best (and most expensive) coffees globally.
Why is it called Geisha coffee?
Let’s first talk about its origins. Geisha coffee beans originated in Ethiopia from the Gori Gesha Forest. Due to misunderstandings in communication, the coffee was spelled Geisha, just like female Japanese entertainers in Japan!
Is it Geisha Coffee or Gesha Coffee?
The coffee now goes by two names due to its complex history. Let’s now get into that part.
The coffee is known worldwide as Geisha, the same name as Japanese entertainers. Due to this, people thought the coffee had something to do with Japan! Coffee shop owners sold it in cafes with Japanese imagery.
However, before it hit the world with its taste, the coffee was being sold by the locals with the name Gesha coffee after the Ethiopian forest the coffee bean originated in.
The name took on a different meaning by adding one extra letter and calling it Geisha coffee.
Growers have repeatedly tried to correct the misunderstanding, but now the coffee is stuck with the name. If you are a true coffee-lover, it would be correct to call it Gesha coffee.
Panama Geisha Coffee Beans
In the 1950s, coffee harvesters brought this coffee from Ethiopia to the tropical agriculture center for research.
After researching the Geisha coffee beans, Geisha coffee was taken to Panama and introduced as a new coffee to help the city’s economy flourish.
One of the first farms to grow the Geisha coffee bean was Hacienda la Esmeralda. This was the beginning of Panama Geisha coffee beans and Panama Geisha coffee!
In 2004, Hacienda la Esmeralda introduced the Panama Geisha coffee beans to the best of Panama coffee auctions.
This was a wise decision, and the farm would make history with the absolute best of Panama coffee beans.
After being introduced to the Panama Geisha coffee beans, the taste evaluators were blown away!
They found the taste of Panama Geisha coffee incredible, and it had such uniqueness. The name of the coffee spread like wildfire overnight. Soon, everyone wanted to find out about the new Panama Geisha coffee.
What does Geisha Coffee taste like?
There is a reason Geisha coffee is famous for creating chaos in the coffee world. It’s the taste. The coffee tastes like fruit, with a texture of tea-like, smooth, and velvety.
The aroma of the coffee is also said to be heavenly. Coffee connoisseurs have described the coffee as having a perfume-like scent with jasmine, rose, peach, and bergamot notes.
How does Geisha Coffee score?
The Specialty Coffee Association utilizes a 100-point scoring system. Geisha coffee manages to score above 90 every time!
So, a high scoring record and stringent requirements just for its harvesting?
No wonder the coffee is said to be so expensive. The coffee’s aroma that distinguishes it from other coffee also elevates it to the top of the price list.
Why is Geisha Coffee so expensive?
Geisha coffee beans need a unique environment and conditions to grow. It is not an easy plant to cultivate. It can require a specific altitude at which to grow.
The bean found in Panama is the descendant of T2722 – a high-quality coffee that can only be grown in high altitudes. Also, it requires the perfect time for harvesting, and we all know photosynthesis is not that efficient.
And then there is demand!
Everyone wanted to try out this coffee due to its history, flavor, and entire harvesting process.
All coffee lovers who were fortunate enough to experience the flavor of Geisha coffee beans could not stop talking about the incredible taste and aroma.
To assess the cost of the coffee beans, its originator had to calculate its points in the Specialty Coffee Association. Fortunately for the harvesters, Geisha has been on top of all its competitors in scoring points over the years.
Over the years, the coffee’s popularity grew to the point that in 2018, the Geisha coffee price was $804 per pound.
Try searching for the most expensive coffee on Google, and we are sure you will get Geisha coffee!
Unfortunately, for the consumer, the coffee is costly. In commerce, the price of anything is estimated according to the value it has to offer.
There is an upside.
Today the Geisha coffee price is only $600 per pound! It’s still not an accessible price for many coffee lovers.
Other Farms and Panama Geisha Coffee Beans
It’s a fact. In 2019, the Lamastus family sold their Panama Geisha coffee beans for $1,029 per pound. The coffee beans are harvested in the Chiriqui highlands, near Volcan Baru. It is brewed from the most incredible variety of arabica beans.
Where to Buy the Best Geisha Coffee Beans
If you plan to get this coffee from your local stores, we assure you, you won’t be able to find it. Only a few retailers were fortunate enough to stock the shelves with it.
Even if you find a cafe selling this coffee, keep in mind that it will cost you around $18 per cup. It is undoubtedly more expensive than the coffee you get in Starbucks!
Geisha Coffee Costa Rica
There are different types of Geisha coffee from other parts of the world. Our favorite is actually one that comes from Costa Rica due to its thin profile and slow harvesting.
- Notes: flowering grass, lavender, a crisp, somewhat vegetal cocoa, hints of molasses, and pipe tobacco
While this coffee is expensive, it’s certainly worth the money. Let us give you a couple of reasons why it’s our favorite!
- Soft and delicate profile
- Quietly complex aromatics
- Gentle acidity
- Silky mouthfeel
- Minimal crop each year
- Medium roast
- Costa Rica is less famous for Geisha coffee than Panama (but who cares if it tastes great!)
How do you roast a Geisha Coffee?
The procedure by which a Geisha espresso bean is prepared affects its flavor. Handling is performed to achieve the arabica coffee bean’s kinds and change it from its unique state to an organic product seed. The cycle by which makers perform enduringly affects the espresso.
There are three essential techniques for preparing Geisha Coffee beans:
- Wet/Washed strategy
- Regular strategy
- Nectar/Semi-washed strategy
Wet/Washed Strategy
The wet or washed strategy is the most famous preparation technique utilized by enormous espresso makers. The cycle begins by setting the Geisha cherries in a holder or water to isolate the ripe cherries and eliminate the unripe. The unripe cherries rise or coast and are then destroyed.
The denser ready cherries are then positioned in a progression of vibrating machines to eradicate the mash. When the even adhesive layer is achieved, the beans are then matured utilizing standard chemicals. The espresso is then washed and dried in mechanical dryers or beds.
Regular Strategy
This cycle includes physically arranging ready cherries and eliminating twigs, stones, leaves, and undesirable objects. The cherries are then spread to dry under the sun. Drying time relies upon the climate and humidity.
The Arabica coffee beans are continually checked to correct dryness and avoid over-drying. When coffee beans become too dry, they can become weak or ruined by germs.
Nectar or Semi Washed Method
The cycle includes eliminating the mash of the cherries without washing their adhesive. The beans can be mature or unripe. After this, the beans are machine-dried for ten days.
Conclusion
Is Geisha Coffee worth the hype? Yes! We believe so!
It is the most expensive coffee globally, but it is understandable due to its unique taste. If you are a true coffee-lover, you should try this coffee out. You will find out why it is considered the best coffee in the world.
It has blown away experts worldwide. It’s time for you to experience the tasty ride it has to offer. True coffee connoisseurs will tell you that the coffee is worth it, but people who had it once will have a different answer.
Try the coffee out, and let us know if you agree with us!
This free cheat sheet will improve your coffee brew by providing quick information on brew ratio, grind size, optimal brewing time, and more.
