Counter Culture Coffee
Hacienda Esmeralda Special Microlot
| Roaster Location: | Durham, North Carolina |
| Coffee Origin: | Boquete growing region, western Panama |
| Roast Level: | Medium-Light |
| Agtron: | 54/83 |
| Review Date: | September 2009 |
| Aroma: | 8 |
| Acidity: | 8 |
| Body: | 8 |
| Flavor: | 9 |
| Aftertaste: | 9 |
Blind Assessment
Sweet and deep in the aroma, with suggestions of flowers, butter, cedar. Smooth, rounded acidity and syrupy body in the cup, with continued floral notes, a cocoaish chocolate and richly tart fruit. Simple but long, resonant finish.
Notes
Coffee from trees of the botanical variety "Gesha" or "Geisha" grown on farmer Price Peterson's Hacienda La Esmeralda in Panama has for the last several years consistently broken records paid for a green coffee. With its long, boat-shaped beans and distinctive floral and chocolate cup, the Esmeralda Panama Gesha continues one of the world's most unique coffees. This lot is described as Mario Pascua. "Mario" refers to the area of the farm in which the coffee was grown, and "Pascua" to the time of year when this lot was harvested: April, the month of Easter or Pascua, relatively late in the harvest. Counter Culture is a small-batch wholesale specialty roaster with an informative and lively website, a commitment to fine coffee and youthful, enthusiastic leadership. Like all Esmeraldas, this version is expensive: $29.95 per 8-ounce bag. Visit
Who Should Drink It
Classic version of this expensive, exceptionally distinctive coffee.
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This review originally appeared in the September, 2009 tasting report: Half Way to Napa? Panamas 2009
