Origin

Nestled in the highlands of Boquete, Panama, Hacienda La Esmeralda stands as one of the most celebrated coffee estates in the world. Family-owned and operated by the Petersons since 1967, the estate is a benchmark for innovation and quality, forever changing the course of specialty coffee through its rediscovery and meticulous cultivation of the Geisha variety.

Across its farms — including the original Cañas Verdes and the newer El Velo — Esmeralda showcases how terroir and process shape flavour in extraordinary ways.

Cañas Verdes, set at 1,700 metres, benefits from cool mountain air and a distinct dry season that allows cherries to ripen slowly, producing elegant, structured coffees known for their floral clarity and refined sweetness.

El Velo, established in 2012 at elevations up to 1,870 metres, represents the next generation of precision coffee farming. Its volcanic soils, rich biodiversity, and controlled drying environments create expressive lots with layered fruit, honeyed sweetness, and the signature jasmine and citrus notes that define the finest Geisha.

From careful handpicking to extended fermentation and slow, raised-bed drying, every detail at Hacienda La Esmeralda reflects decades of curiosity, innovation, and pursuit of excellence. The result is a portfolio of coffees that capture the harmony of place, process, and variety — and continue to set the global standard for what coffee can be.