Rudolph Peterson purchased Hacienda La Esmeralda as a retirement venture in 1967, and his family has been tending the land around the small town of Boquete ever since. In the early days, the land was primarily pasture for beef cattle, but over the years, the family transitioned to dairy cattle and coffee production.
In 2004, the Peterson family and Hacienda La Esmeralda took the coffee world by storm. That year's Best of Panama competition saw Geisha reintroduced to the world, securing the highest price ever paid for coffee at auction. After twenty-one years, the Peterson Family are still at the forefront of excellence – in the 2025 Best of Panama competition, they captured the first ever clean sweep – placing 1st in all three categories. A remarkable result, for a remarkable family.
The Peterson Family now grow Geisha in many sections of their estate, but it was a lot from Jaramillo that blew the judges' minds back in 2004. This lot is from the Noria section of the farm. It is situated on the edge of the Baru Volcano, where high altitude, cool evening temperatures, volcanic soil, and massive shade trees provide the perfect terroir for growing Geisha. This coffee is an absolute fruit bomb!
How to Drink: Just like you wouldn't add soda to your best whiskey, this amazing coffee is meant to be drank black with no sugar or cream.
