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Thumbnail Filmstrip of Panama Elida Loma Centro Geisha Natural ASD Images
About Panama Elida Loma Centro Geisha Natural ASD
Arrived July 2026 by airfreight in vacuum packaging, new crop. We are recently back (Aug 2026) from our second trip to Panama this season. We were there the last couple days of April when we cupped several tables of top Geisha at Elida Estate and made a few selections of their fabulous coffee for you. Those coffees arrived just a couple of weeks ago by air and this is the first of several Geishas that we will offer - and what a stunner it is. We were there again last week where Barry was an international judge in the 30th anniversary Best of Panama competition. The competition has world class Geisha coffees split into two categories, Natural and Washed, as well as a third category that encompasses all other varieties. Producers from throughout the area put their coffee into this highly esteemed contest to take honors as the best coffee of the year. And the winner of the Geisha Washed category was ...... wait for it.....Elida Estate! And, in the Geisha Natural category, Elida was the third place winner. The pedigree of this farm, actually three properties - Elida Estate, El Burro and Luito - are simply put, some of the best coffees in the world. The international crowd that comes to Boquete each year, and to Elida in particular, are a testament to the greatness of the coffee here.
Panama's Elida Estate Geisha is one of today's most sought after coffees. The farm has produced world class Geisha coffees and in recent years, an annual private auction attracts elite buyers from around the world who pay hundreds, and sometimes thousands, of dollars per pound for Elida's hallmark green coffee offerings. After two back to back years, 2018 and 2019 in which Elida Estate won 1st place in both Natural and Washed Geisha categories in the Best of Panama competitions, access to their coffee became more rarified. It was an unheard of accomplishment when one considers the quantity and quality of the competition. The prices those coffees achieved at auction broke world records at the time. We have had a terrific relationship with the family for many years. In May of this year we visited the farm and cupped multiple tables of geisha with different preparations. This would certainly be a high scoring, probably mid 90s point coffee on any table. This coffee is a powerhouse of floral elegance showing bergamot and multiple layers of flavors.
Loma Centro is one of the newer, higher and wilder sections of the Elida Estate property. As its name implies, it is located in the center (Centro) of Elida and is also partially
located inside the Baru Volcano National Park. All of it is planted with Geisha and the elevation runs between 1,780 and 1,820 meters.
Elida Estate has been run by the Lamastus family for four generations, starting in 1918 when
the founder of the farm, Robert Lamastus, bought property along the Baru
Volcano. There are three farms in the Lamastus family: Elida Estate (in Alto Quiel), El Burro
Estate, and Luito Geisha Estate. With elevations between 5500 and 8200 feet
above sea level, Elida is the highest coffee farm in Panama, although coffee is
only grown between 5600 and 6200 feet. A large part of the farm is a dedicated
ecological reserve area in Volcan Baru National Park, a world heritage site. On a side note, Panama is one of a handful of countries that is carbon negative. Because of its enormous amount of forested, Panama absorbs more climate-changing emissions than it produces. This environmental awareness is top of mind by its coffee producers.
The Lamastus family accepting the 1st place award at BoP on 8/1/26
A little about this coffee. Officially, Lamastus designates this coffee with the code EGN ASD RF2D. Broken down, that means Elida Geisha Natural Anaerobic Slow Dry. The RF2D is for Reactor (or Rotary) Fermentation for 2 Days. Thus, the coffee spent two days in an airtight and rotating stainless tank (see below). It was then dried outside on traditional raised beds for 30 to 45 days. The coffee was harvested on March 18 and the process completed in April, a short time before we cupped it in the farm's cupping room.
Rotary Fermentation tanks
Elida Estate plot map
Barry Levine (Willoughby's/Roastmasters) and Wilford Lamastus (Elida)
Elida has broken numerous world coffee price records. In 2018 Elida's Geisha Green Tip Washed sold for $661.00/lb at
auction, and their Geisha Green Tip Natural sold for a whopping $803.00/lb. In the 2019 Best of Panama competition, Elida Estate won first place in
the two categories again, Natural and Washed Geisha, and again broke records when their
Natural Geisha sold for $1029.00/lb. at auction. The 2020 Auction saw Elida
place in the top ten of several categories; one Geisha Natural lot from La Torre
placed #6 in its Category. Beginning in 2021 Elida held a private auction in which several more records were broken. Two lots of Torre ASD sold for $311 and $201 per pound. A special, small lot called Aguacatillo Geisha Natural ASD sold for $4,100 per pound! Most of this coffee is purchased by roasters in Asia.
- Farm: Elida Estate
- Producer: Wilford Lamastus Sr.
- Province: Chiriqui
- District: Boquete
- Micro region: Alto Quiel
- Township: Los Naranjos
- Altitude: 1,780 - 1,820 above sea level
- Coffee variety: Geisha
- Processing: 2 days in anaerobic stainless rotary fermentation tank, slow drying on beds
Cup Characteristics: Lots of jasmine and lavender in aroma and flavor, perfumed and with the presence of bergamot. Cocoa, cinnamon and candy notes along with kiwi. Bright lemon-lime citric acidity with lemongrass displays the elevation. Long, long finish. This is an elegant, top Geisha Natural.
Roasting Notes: Our preferred roasting range for this coffee is midway between 1st and 2nd crack. The delicate qualities will be present throughout this range, with lighter variations highlighting piquancy and citrus notes, while Full City levels will enhance body. Keep in mind that natural processed coffees tend to roast a little quicker than washed, and plan your roast accordingly.
