Panama Elida Green Tip Geisha - The 1029

And now for something completely different. The top scoring coffee ever in competition, it scored an average of 95.5 points from a panel of 20 jurors. It is also the highest scoring coffee ever in Coffee Review (97 and 98 points). Grown by the Lamastus Family of Boquete Panama this is a stunning example of the Geisha variety and a superb example of Natural processing. Elida Estate has the highest coffee growing area in all of Panama. This coffee was grown on Elida's Torre plot of land at the farm's highest elevation and best exposure. Coffee from this plot won first place in both the Geisha Washed and Geisha Natural categories in 2018 at the Best of Panama competition. In 2019 they won both categories again, an amazing achievement given the sheer number of coffees entered into competion. Wilford Lamastus and family have made artistry with their intimate knowledge of Geisha growing, processing and evaluating various lots from his family farm. There are two known sub-types of Geisha, green tip and bronze tip, so named for the appearance of the plant's leaves. The green tip variety is turning out to be a stunner from this world class farm.

Barry Levine, Willoughby's owner, was a juror at the 2019 Best of Panama. As is the practice, the top ranked coffees from the competition are auctioned online. When auctioned, bidders across the globe were determined to have this particular coffee and the action was fierce. Only 100 pounds of coffee was available. Buyers, knowing the price would run high, formed into groups, and we were part of one such group being led by a colleague in Tokyo. The price immediately went into the mid hundred dollars per pound range and the auction pushed on deep into the night where we are. It concluded in the middle of the night, after many hours of bidding, setting a coffee world auction record of $1029 per pound. Our cost further increased as we imported it and further still when roasted. Now, a maximum of 25 customers will have an opportunity to buy this exceptional coffee.

Our Elida Geisha Green Tip Natural experience includes:

• 100 grams of roasted to order Panama Elida Green Tip Geisha Natural
• 1 Willoughby's logo cupping bowl
• 1 Lamastus Family logo professional cupping spoon
• Small, pocketable Jennings gram scale
• 1 Willoughby's Serious Coffee Drinker tee shirt
• Copy of Certificate of Authenticy
• Custom made presentation box
• Shipping included to US locations

The price is $425. We know this a lot of money to pay for 100 grams of coffee. We know because we paid a lot ourselves. But you will get to try a coffee that few others will. A note - while this is unquestionably a great coffee, please do not expect it to be say, 50 times the taste of a $20 coffee. It just does not work that way and the same would be true for any delicious luxury item like a top wine. But it is indeed a delicious cup.

We expect to ship this item during the first week of December. We can also hold some for holiday shipping at a preferred date.

Cup Characteristics: (Coffee Review) Nuanced, ethereal, yet exceptionally lush. Aprium, star jasmine, pistachio butter, cocoa, pink peppercorn, almond brittle in aroma and cup. High-toned, sweetly tart in structure with a juicy, vibrant acidity; levitating, nectar-like mouthfeel. The finish is rich-toned and resonant with all of the aromatics and flavors of the cup, star jasmine and cocoa, in particular. Notes: This coffee earned the highest rating in a cupping of coffees of the Geisha/Gesha variety of Arabica for Coffee Review’s September 2019 tasting report. Produced from the trees of the rare Ethiopia-derived botanical variety Geisha (also spelled Gesha) by the Lamastus family at Elida Estate. With its generally elongated beans and distinctive floral and crisp, often chocolaty cup, the Geisha/Gesha variety continues to distinguish itself as one of the world’s most unique coffees. The Green Tip strain is particularly admired. This is a “natural” or dry-processed version, meaning the beans were dried inside the fruit, encouraging a flavor profile that is sweeter and deeper-toned than the more familiar wet-processed profile.

Wilford Lamastus Sr and Jr

This coffee is offered only in whole bean.