Finca Sophia Olympus, a Geisha coffee from the highlands of Nueva Suiza, sold for a world record auction price of US$1300.50 per pound to winning bidder Pick Coffee at the 2020 Best of Panama Auction. 

This followed the farm being awarded first place in the Washed Geisha Category, second place in the Natural Geisha Category, and the prestigious Panama Cup for overall performance in the coffee quality competition.

Elida Geisha Washed from Lamastus Family Estates placed second in the Washed category and sold for US$400 per pound to a group of buyers. The third place El Antidoto by Bambito Estate Coffee sold for US$120.50 per pound to Geshary Coffee in Japan.

Geisha Black Jaguar from Guaramo Coffee Farm won in the Natural Category and sold for US$1000.50 per pound to a group of buyers. Nuguo Concept 2020 from Finca Nuguo placed third in the category and sold for US$150.50 per pound to Grand Cru Coffee in China.

“I’m still speechless after the incredible auction results of our Finca Sophia Olympus washed geisha… When we started with the development of Finca Sophia we could not dream of such an incredible success,” Willem Boot says, who co-owns Finca Sophia with his wife Catherine Cadloni, Equator Coffees’ Brooke McDonald and Helen Russell, and coffee consultant David Pohl.

“I want to thank our entire team at Finca Sophia and also our partners who always maintained their trust in the vision of Finca Sophia. I also feel very humbled by the fact that there are millions of coffee farmers for whom coffee growing is a struggle to survive. I hope that this phenomenal record will allow us to be more successful in our work in the world of coffee.”

Finca Sophia is managed by Kelly Hartmann, and is under the daily operations of farm supervisor Angel Mariano with co-direction by David Pohl. Finca Sophia was established to test the limits of coffee cultivation in Panama with elevations in excess of 2100 meters above sea level. Its owners say while challenging, the elevation promotes slow fruit maturation and when combined with the utmost care and innovations in processing, yields the quality recognised by the judges and bidders of the 2020 Best of Panama Auction.

“This auction represents the dedication and hard work of Kelly Hartmann and Angel Mariano. We wouldn’t be here without their expertise and careful handling of these coffees. In keeping with our commitment to recognise farmers and their work, Kelly and Angel will both share in the rewards from this achievement,” Willem says.

Willem’s Finca La Mula Madrisa Geisha lot was also represented in the Washed Geisha category.

For more information, visit auction.bestofpanama.org