Hacienda La Esmeralda, nestled in the highlands of Boquete, Panama, is no ordinary coffee farm. It’s the legendary estate that put Panama’s Gesha (Geisha) coffee on the map. This family-run farm, established in 1967 by Rudolph Peterson, has over 50 years of coffee cultivation excellence on its rich volcanic slopes. Back in 2004, La Esmeralda “rediscovered” the Geisha variety by a stroke of serendipity, unveiling an intense jasmine and stone-fruit aromatic profile that wowed the coffee world. More than two decades later, Hacienda La Esmeralda is still dominating the industry, even achieving a historic “triple crown” victory at the 2025 Best of Panama competition. Bean & Bean is proud to partner with this pioneering farm, and soon you can taste the results of this partnership in your cup.
From Cattle Ranch to Coffee Legend: Farm History
Hacienda La Esmeralda wasn’t always synonymous with coffee. The land was first assembled as an estate in 1940 and later acquired by the Peterson family in 1967. For years it was used for cattle and dairy, but in the 1980s the Petersons turned their focus to coffee, recognizing Boquete’s potential for quality beans. A key move came in 1997, when they purchased a high-altitude plot on Volcán Barú (Jaramillo farm) specifically to cultivate livelier, nuanced coffees. It was here, at elevations above 1,650 meters, that the rare Geisha varietal was planted, a decision that would change coffee history. The Geisha trees thrived in Jaramillo’s cool, misty microclimate, showing resilience to diseases and hinting at unique cup qualities. Little did the Petersons know that these seedlings were the start of a legend.
The Gesha Breakthrough in 2004
In the 2004 Best of Panama (BOP) competition, an annual specialty coffee contest and auction, Hacienda La Esmeralda stunned judges and buyers alike with a pure Geisha lot from their Jaramillo farm. This was the first time anyone had tasted 100% Geisha coffee from Panama, and its explosion of juicy brightness, floral aroma, and tea-like clarity was more reminiscent of an Ethiopian heirloom than a typical Latin American coffee. The judges were blown away. La Esmeralda’s Geisha took first place in BOP 2004 and set a record for the highest coffee auction price ever at the time. That single event put Panama on the global coffee map and made “Geisha” a household name among coffee aficionados. The Peterson family had effectively pioneered a new era of ultra-premium coffee: Panama Geisha. They invested in better lot separation, processing, and experimental techniques, determined to continue unlocking Geisha’s potential. The result was a string of international awards and record-breaking auctions in the years that followed, as Esmeralda Geisha cemented its reputation for unparalleled quality.
Best of Panama: A Competition Like No Other
Best of Panama (BOP) is the most prestigious coffee competition in the world. Each year, Panama’s top producers submit their finest small lots – especially Geisha – to be blind-tasted by an international jury of experts. The coffees that score highest are later sold in an auction where buyers from around the globe pay astronomical prices (often hundreds or even thousands of dollars per pound) for these rare beans. In other words, winning at BOP means your coffee is officially among the best on the planet. Hacienda La Esmeralda has been a dominant force in this arena for two decades. Ever since their paradigm-shifting win in 2004, they have repeatedly taken top honors: first-place trophies in multiple years including 2004–2007, 2009–2010, 2013, 2015, 2017–2019 – an unprecedented track record of excellence. This consistent performance made Esmeralda a symbol of quality, with coffees known for expressive florals, clean fruit, and silky textures.
A Historic Triple Win in 2025
In 2025, Hacienda La Esmeralda made coffee history by sweeping all three major categories at the Best of Panama competition—a feat never before achieved in the event’s 29-year history. Their Gesha Washed and Gesha Natural both came from Nido, a remote, high-altitude plot nestled at over 2,050 meters in Cañas Verdes. Once used for vegetables and later as pastureland, Nido has evolved into one of the most celebrated terroirs in the world. Its name, meaning “nest,” pays homage to the quetzals that have lived there for generations. After years of careful cultivation, the plot yielded record-breaking coffees this year, with several judges even awarding Esmeralda’s Washed Geisha a perfect 100. These results cement Nido’s reputation as a pinnacle site for Gesha production and highlight the Peterson family’s visionary approach to farming and processing.
Esmeralda’s third victory came from a rare Laurina variety, which took 1st Place in the Varietals category. Laurina—also known as Bourbon Pointu—is a naturally low-caffeine coffee prized for its delicate sweetness, citrusy brightness, and silky texture. It is notoriously difficult to grow due to its vulnerability to pests and low yields, making top-quality lots exceedingly rare. That Esmeralda not only grew Laurina successfully but elevated it to competition-winning status is remarkable. This historic “triple crown” win proves that Hacienda La Esmeralda continues to lead the specialty coffee world, pushing boundaries in both Gesha and beyond while showcasing Panama’s unmatched diversity of coffee excellence.
Bean & Bean’s Connection to Hacienda La Esmeralda
Our journey with Hacienda La Esmeralda began with a shared passion for exceptional coffee. In 2024, Bean & Bean’s mother-daughter team (Rachel & Jiyoon) visited the Petersons in Boquete for the first time, forging a personal connection with this famed farm. They toured the lush Geisha plots, learned directly from the producers, and cupped fresh harvest samples right at the source. This rare opportunity allowed us to bring a piece of coffee history back home.
Bean & Bean’s limited-release Hacienda La Esmeralda Gesha marked our first-ever microlot from the farm – a natural-process Gesha from the Cañas Verdes plot. This 92-point stunner boasted vibrant notes of jasmine, tropical fruits like mango and pineapple, plus juicy berries, delivering the signature floral sweetness that Esmeralda is famous for.
It’s worth noting how these ties run deeper than just buying beans. In fact, Bean & Bean’s own Jiyoon Han was invited to be an international judge at the Best of Panama 2025 competition – a huge honor that speaks to the respect she’s earned in the specialty coffee community. Jiyoon spent long days in Panama “cupping ’til she dropped,” evaluating dozens of samples (including the Esmeralda entries) alongside other expert cuppers. Her firsthand experience at BOP this year gave her an even greater appreciation for what makes Hacienda La Esmeralda’s coffees so extraordinary. And it means we at Bean & Bean can vouch with full confidence: this is coffee at its absolute peak.
Our Newest Releases from Hacienda La Esmeralda
Ready to taste coffees from this legendary farm? Try our newest Esmeralda release!
