THIS IS IT -- the Best of Panama 2007 Auction Lot #1 winner which took top honors with a score of 95.26 and sold at auction for a record $130 per pound! This award-winning coffee has won first place in the Best of Panama coffee competition for four consecutive years, first place in the Specialty Coffee Association of America's Cupping Pavilion the last three years (2005-2007) and the Rainforest Alliance Cupping for Quality in 2004, 2006 and 2007. Esmeralda Especial has truly become the world's most famous coffee. This is an opportunity to purchase something rare. The entire auction lot was only 500 and split between us and 6 roasters. We believe we are the only company offering this coffee to home coffee roasters. | Award night in Panama with The Peterson's of Hacienda La Esmeralda.
Clockwise: Bob Williams, Price, Rachel and Susan Peterson,
Barry Levine, Daniel Peterson. |
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The coffee is grown on the Hacienda La Esmeralda, located on the slopes of Mount Baru in western Panama near Boquete. It is grown from the geisha varietal at an altitude of over 5400 feet above sea level. Geisha is an heirloom cultivar of Ethiopian origin, which took root in Panama mid 20th Century. Soil and climate conditions in Panama are well suited to geisha; this cultivar is a major factor in Esmeralda's cup quality. The other major factor is the level of care and attention to detail given the coffee by the farm's owners, the family of Price Peterson. In addition to the level of excellence in the coffee's growth, harvest and preparation, the Peterson's care deeply for the people who work on the farm, paying premium wages and providing medical and dental care and a nursery for the young ones. The coffee is washed and is Certified Rainforest Alliance. We were competition judges and one of our colleagues gave this coffee a perfect 100 score, saying, "There was absolutely no category where I could take away anything. The coffee was perfect". Hacienda La Esmeralda produces about 150 bags of Esmeralda Especial in any given year, sometimes less. Of that, the owners select what they believe to be the very best lot to place into competition. You are purchasing here the winning lot itself. Additional, non-auction coffee will also become available here in the near future, at prices that are considerably less expensive. This coffee presents an opportunity to acquire some of the very scarce auction winning lot. Cup Characteristics:This truly unique coffee is powerfully aromatic with notable jasmine fragrance. Orange-like citrus and blueberry flavor notes. Very bright, sweet, balanced acidity. Exotic, intense. When properly roasted the scent of this coffee is instantly recognizable.  Roasting note:roast this coffee lightly to preserve its highly floral and unique scent, which you will taste all the way to the final sip.
Quantity is very limited. Note that packages and price are half pounds.If you want a pound please order two packages. We have only 50 pounds available. There is a limit of 5 packages or 2.5 pounds per customer. There is no volume discount. Coffee comes packed in foil bags.
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