The Specialty Coffee Association of Panama has announced a record-breaking lot price at its annual auction, which took place on 8 August.
The highest lot price was US$10,013 per kilogram, achieved by the Lamastus Family Estates’ Elida Geisha Natural Vuelta in the Geisha Natural category.
The second highest lot was Adaura Coffee’s Kaizen Washed Geisha, part of the Geisha Washed category, which sold for US$10,002 per kilogram. For the Varietals Category, the Black Moon Constellation from Black Moon Farm sold for US$1630 per kilogram with the lesser-known Chiroso varietal.
The total auction value achieved was US$1,383,719, with a weighted average price of US$1383 per kilogram, setting yet another record for the competition..
“It makes me particularly proud to be part of this effort that the Specialty Coffee Association of Panama has put together to bring the best coffees of our country to the world,” says Executive Secretary of the Specialty Coffee Association of Panama Ana Luisa Miranda.
“The auction has been another record-breaking success, thanks to the hard work and dedication of our producers, to the knowledgeable group of people (national and international) who selected the 50 auctioned coffees, and to the buyers from all over the world. The auction was managed impeccably with the collaboration of M-Cultivo. We have nothing but gratitude for everyone who was involved in this year’s event.”
The winner of both the Elida Geisha Natural and the Kaizen Washed Geisha auctions, as well as one of Esmeralda’s Natural Geishas, was Tokyo’s Saza Coffee.
“I am honoured and grateful to Saza Coffee. I am also immensely proud of my team for achieving this remarkable milestone, as they are dedicated to processing Geisha from what is likely the best coffee terroir in the world,” says Producer of the Elida Geisha Natural Wilford Lamastus Sr.
The winner of Black Moon Farm’s coffee was Yoshihito Nakano at Definitive Coffee, another Tokyo-based roaster.
“For our farm, this success is deeply meaningful and reinforces our commitment to a Regenerative Farming system that prioritises soil health and biodiversity. These practices yield healthier plants and, ultimately, better cup quality each year. We’re excited about the path we’re on and the potential it holds for the future,” says Black Moon Farm representative Hunter Tedman.
According to event host M-Cultivo, the auction highlights the sector’s leading coffee producers, showcasing the event’s commitment to help coffee producers grow their business through exposure in the industry.
“The 2024 Best of Panama auction shattered expectations in the specialty coffee industry. It has further differentiated the highest quality coffees in the world from the commodity coffee most people are used to drinking,” says M-Cultivo CEO David Paparelli.
“M-Cultivo is proud to host premier coffee auctions that solidify this trend. Highlighting the best coffee producers in the world as industry leaders and rewarding them for their incredible quality.”
Organised by the Specialty Coffee Association, The Best of Panama is an annual competition for specialty coffee growers. To qualify for the event, producers must submit coffees for evaluation by a national and international jury. After this process, the top-scoring coffees are auctioned off each year.
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