Hacienda La Esmeralda achieved an unprecedented feat at Best of Panama 2025, the world's most prestigious coffee competition, which determines the best batch of Panamanian coffee of the year.

For the first time in history, Esmeralda Farm dominated all three categories, achieving two of the highest scores ever: 98.00 points in Geisha Washed category and 97.00 points in Geisha Natural category.

The Peterson family runs Esmeralda Farm

This year's Best of Panama competition, now in its 29th year, was judged by a panel of 22 international judges from around the world. Esmeralda Farm, winner of Geisha /Washed category, received an astonishing score of 98.00 points, the highest score in the history of the competition, far surpassing the previous record.

"It's unprecedented for us to win three first place awards at the same time in the Best of Panama awards, and we can't believe it," said Rachel Peterson of the farm. The Peterson family has been a leader in the Panamanian specialty coffee industry for many years.

Esmeralda Farm caused a worldwide sensation in 2004 when it entered Geisha in the Best of Panama competition for the first time.

More than 20 years later, in 2025, the legend was created once again.

Geisha Washed Division

1st place: Hacienda La Esmeralda - 98.00 points
2nd place: Finca Sofia - 96.25 points
3rd Place: Nuguo Cafe (Gallardo Family) - 95.27 points

Geisha Natural Category
1st place: Hacienda La Esmeralda - 97.00 points
2nd place: Finca Los Cenisos - 96.25 points
3rd place: Finca Sofia - 96.25 points

Varietal Category
1st Place: Hacienda La Esmeralda (Lourina, El Bello subdivision) - 92.88 points
2nd Place: Black Moon Farm (Hunter Tedman) - 92.63 points
3rd Place: Cantera Farm (Garrido Family) - 92.25 points

Judge Will Young (Australia) said, "Panama has established its position as the world's best coffee-producing country," and Ricardo Coyner, president of SCAP (Specialty Coffee Association of Panama) and owner of Cotowa Farm, could not hide his excitement, saying, "It was an incredible competition." Ricardo revealed that some judges even awarded the winning coffee a perfect score of 100 points.

The auction of the winning lots is scheduled for August 6th, and attention from around the world is focused on the price these record-breaking lots will fetch. The highest winning bid price at the 2024 auction was $10,013/kg, so the focus will be on how the market will evaluate this year's extraordinary score of 98 points.

This record-breaking result sets a new standard of quality for the entire specialty coffee industry, with the unprecedented score of 98 points setting a new benchmark in coffee quality assessment.

Panama is also scheduled to host its first World of Coffee event in 2026, and it is expected that Panama will continue to strengthen its position as a producer of the world's best coffee.

The results of the online auction held on August 6th were surprising and exceeded all expectations.

The winning bid for "Esmeralda Farm Geisha Washed" was $30,204/kg , which is equivalent to 4,536,000 yen at an exchange rate of 150 yen to the dollar.

This is three times the price of the previous year and of course the highest price ever.

Each lot at this show/auction weighs 20kg, and the price for one lot is $604,080.

At an exchange rate of 150 yen to the dollar, this comes to 90,612,000 yen .

The winning bidder was Julith Coffee from Dubai.

On the other hand, "Esmeralda Geisha Natural" is priced at $23,608/kg (3,541,200 yen at 150 yen exchange rate).

The winner of the varietal category was Esmeralda Laurina, who sold for $8,040/kg (1,206,000 yen).

Needless to say, this is an astonishing price, but it will become a benchmark for the world's highest quality coffee prices.

I would like to keep an eye on the future developments of Esmeralda Farm and Panama Geisha .

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