Geisha coffee, also known as Gesha coffee, is a highly prized and expensive Coffea arabica variety recognized for its unique and complex flavor profile. Originating in the Gori Gesha forest of Ethiopia, it gained prominence after its rediscovery in Panama in 2004. Today, it is cultivated in various countries, including Panama, Costa Rica, Colombia, and Guatemala. Geisha beans are long and slender, producing a coffee known for its delicate, floral, and tea-like flavors, often with notes of jasmine, bergamot, apricot, and peach. The Specialty Coffee Association consistently scores Geisha coffee at 90 or higher, recognizing it as a high-quality coffee.
The unique flavor, meticulous production, limited cultivation, and high demand contribute to Geisha coffee's high price. Green Geisha beans from Colombia, Guatemala, or Costa Rica average $25–50 per pound, but top microlots can exceed $1,000 at auction. Award-winning green Geisha microlots can exceed $1,000 USD per pound at auctions. In 2024, a honey-processed Geisha from Elida Aguacatillo set a new record auction price of $13,518 USD per kilogram. In August 2025, Hacienda La Esmeralda's washed Geisha sold for $30,204 USD per kilogram at the Best of Panama (BoP) auction. The price of an 8-ounce cup of Geisha coffee in U.S. specialty coffee shops ranges from $5 to $15, depending on location, quality, and preparation. It is often grown at high altitudes, between 1,400 and 1,800 meters, in volcanic soil, requiring specific climate conditions and careful harvesting.