Organization: The Roasterie, Kansas City, Missouri
Coffee: Panama Esmeralda Special, 2005
Reviewed: August 2005
Overall Rating: 92 points
Roast (Agtron): Medium (45/61)
Estimated Price:
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Origin: Boquete growing district, western Panama

Notes: The 2004 version of this exceptional coffee attracted a score of 95.6 from a jury of international coffee cuppers at the Best of Panama 2004 Cupping Event, then, at the subsequent auction, set what would appear to be a world record price for a green coffee - $21.00 per pound - paid by a consortium of American specialty roasters led by Roasterie president Danny O'Neill. This crop, like the record-setting one, was produced from trees of the Geisha variety of arabica, a variety with Ethiopian parentage, by Finca Esmeralda owners Price and Daniel Peterson. The Roasterie is a leading, quality-oriented specialty roaster that emphasizes its commitment to "air roasting," a technology utilizing a column of hot air rather than the conventional turning drum to agitate the roasting beans. Visit www.theroasterie.com or call 800-376-0245 for more information.

Blind Assessment: Superb aroma: For Ken giddily floral with blueberry and cherry notes, for co-cupper Rodger Owen "a beautiful burst of lemon." In the cup crisply bright, intensely floral, sweetly and quietly lemon, then (for Ken) rounding toward an orange-toned chocolate. Slight astringency in the short finish but the floral notes had the last, lingering word in the long.

Who should drink it: An exotic choice for those coffee adventurers who travel in linen suits.

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