In 2004, the coffee world was astir with the news that a green coffee from Panama had garnered an unheard-of auction price of $21 per pound. That coffee was Hacienda Esmeralda’s microlot “Especial.” Grown at altitudes exceeding 4,500ft, Especial was brought to the farm’s attention when one of the sons of the owner noticed that some of the farm’s beans were of much higher quality than their normal productions.
The farm began a test to see what each area of the farm’s coffees tasted like. They discovered an area of the farm that grew an African varietal called Gsha, pronounced “Geisha,” which produced an extraordinary cup.
The specialty coffee world went crazy again in 2006, when Esmeralda Especial green coffee sold at auction for more than $50 per pound. In 2010, it topped $170 per pound! After this year’s auction, Deep Cello found out we would receive a small lot of this coffee. We will keep interested coffee lovers apprised on the blog as to its availability. Because the production is so limited, only a few speciality roasters can take part in the process.
The really good news for ALL coffee drinkers, is that higher auction prices actually improve the quality of coffee around the world, because growers see an incentive to produce the best coffee they can. There exist superb coffees from Latin America, Brazil, and Africa that are not so famous, but deserving of fame they are. Deep Cello works to bring you these excellent coffees everyday in roasts such as Black Tie™, Nostromo, and Bossa Espresso.
You can learn more about Esmeralda Especial by visiting their website at:
http://www.haciendaesmeralda.com/Esmeralda%20Special.htm
or more about Deep Cello’s coffees at http://eepcello.com