After a two-year hiatus caused by the coronavirus pandemic, the highlands of  Chiriquí played host to international producers, baristas, and judges in search of exquisite coffees at the Best of Panama tastings.

The six-day competition of specialty coffees sets the standard in terms of the quality of the Geisha that is marketed worldwide was powerful. Nearly 15 judges from South Korea, Hong Kong, Australia, and the United States participated in the tasting

The records set on the night of Saturday, August 6,  have given a boost to families that in some cases have dedicated more than 100 years to coffee growing.

In the XXVI edition of the Best of Panama, the Guarumo Coffee Farm Black Jaguar lot, from producers Tessie and Ratibor Hartmann, obtained the highest score, obtaining 96.50 in the Natural Geisha category.

It is the highest score in all Geisha coffee competitions in the world and, Auromar's Firestone lot obtained a rating of 96.15, resulting in winning the Geisha Lavado variety.

It is also the highest score that has been achieved in the category, which overjoyed Roberto Brenes in charge of Auromar SA, a company dedicated to the production of Geisha coffee in the area of ​​Piedra Candela, Volcán.

“The greatest encouragement is the level of competence, dedication, and passion of my colleagues. We have built the region with the best coffee in the world,” Brenes told La Prensa.

In the Varietal category, the winner was Chicho Gallo, by Ratibor Hartmann, with 94 points.

The producer of the year award was given to Lamastus Family Estates based on the accumulated score, being among the three best coffees in the different categories.

Wilford Lamastus Jr.  said: “There was the concern of losing some sales, but luckily this did not happen.”

October auction
The Panamanian Association of Specialty Coffees is now starting another process; that of preparing samples of the best lots of coffee from the Best of Panama to send them to the buyers registered in the global electronic auction planned for the beginning of October. Last year a one-pound bag set a world record price at $1,029.

There will be 50 batches divided into the best 18 Natural Geisha batches, another 18 Washed Geisha batches and 14 Varietal batches.