Why is Geisha (or Gesha) coffee considered the GOAT?

^ Gibberish? Okay let’s break it down…

If you've heard the term 'Geisha' and thought of Japan, you're not alone! But Geisha (or Gesha) coffee is a type of coffee plant/varietal that actually originates in Ethiopia, where it was first discovered in the coffee forests during the 1930s. The name is believed to come from the Gori Gesha forest in Ethiopia, but this varietal later gained worldwide fame in Panama for its delicate floral flavours and bright acidity.

Geisha is renowned for its exceptional cup quality, especially when grown at higher altitudes. While the term "Geisha" has been used for different genetically distinct coffees, the most famous variety comes from Panama. It was introduced to Tanzania’s Lyamungu research station and later to the Centro Agronómico Tropical de Investigación y Enseñanza (CATIE) in 1953, where it was recorded as T2722. In the 1960s, CATIE distributed T2722 across Panama, initially valued for its resistance to Coffee Leaf Rust (CLR). However, its fragile branches made it less widely cultivated.

The Panama Geisha reached global acclaim in 2005 when it won the "Best of Panama" competition, breaking records by selling for over $20 per pound. DNA analysis has confirmed that this variety, descended from T2722, is genetically distinct and uniform.

Today, Geisha is celebrated for its delicate floral notes, including jasmine and stone fruit flavours.