Culture

Here at Amrita, we are inspired by nature and wildlife. We source our coffees from farms and co-ops that use sustainable practices, emphasizing care of the environment and well-being of the community.

The journey of Geisha coffee is a remarkable tale from its origins in the Gori Gesha forest of Ethiopia, the birthplace of Arabica coffee, where the variety was initially discovered in the 1930s by British scientists seeking disease-resistant coffee plants that would result in better yields and be easier to grow and process.

The plants, characterized by their elongated leaves, remained relatively unknown and uncelebrated for decades. They were grown in limited quantities and were overshadowed by other Ethiopian varieties. In the 1950s, the Geisha variety, in a linguistic variation more common in Latin America, was introduced to the Costa Rican coffee research institute, CATIE, as part of a global effort to study diverse coffee species.

From Costa Rica, the variety was then distributed throughout Central America, including Panama, in the 1960s. It was initially valued for its resistance to the coffee leaf rust, a common disease. However, its low yield and fragile nature led farmers to favor other, more productive varieties. Geisha cultivation remained a niche pursuit for decades.

The turning point for Geisha coffee arrived in the early 2000s in Panama. The Peterson family, owners of the Hacienda La Esmeralda, cultivated Geisha plants on their farm in the high-altitude region of Boquete. In 2004, they entered their Geisha coffee into the Best of Panama competition, where its unique and extraordinary flavor profiles, unlike anything the judges had ever tasted, captivated the coffee world. The coffee won the competition with a record-breaking score and fetched unprecedented prices at auction, sparking a global acceptance and catapulting Geisha into the spotlight.

Since then, Panamanian Geisha has consistently commanded some of the highest prices in the specialty coffee market, becoming a symbol of excellence and innovation. Its distinctive flavor, characterized by floral, fruity, and tea-like notes, along with its rarity and the meticulous cultivation it demands, has solidified its status as one of the most sought-after varieties of coffee in the world.

While Panama remains the most renowned producer, Geisha is now grown in other regions with suitable climates and altitudes, including Colombia, Costa Rica, Ethiopia and even some regions in Asia, showcasing the adaptability and enduring appeal of this remarkable coffee.

But the best quality Geisha is grown in Panama, and the Lamastus family is at the forefront with generations of experience growing and preparing coffee for the market.

The family helps its neighbors grow, process, export and market their coffee. The high elevation of 6,000 to 7,000 feet above sea level on the steep hills of the Baru volcano where it is grown in shade in the volcanic soil.

To harvest and process, the cherries are delicately hand-picked at strict full maturity by native Ngobe-Bugle Indians in an area where the main objective is to keep the environment in its most pristine and natural condition. The coffee is sun-dried with the fruit intact on African beds, hulled and sorted for quality shortly before shipping. The green coffee is shipped in 50-lb. Vacuum bags to preserve quality. It is then freshly roasted in small batches in Florida.

Coffee and Sea Turtles in Common

What brings Panama and Florida together, beyond the Geisha coffee link, is the priority put on preserving sea turtles. Panama is home to five of the seven sea turtle species and Florida, home to Amrita Coffee, is a crucial nesting ground for several sea turtle species, including the loggerhead, green turtle and leatherback.

Nesting season in Florida generally spans from March 1 to October 31, with females emerging at night to lay their eggs on the sandy beaches. These nesting beaches are protected under state and federal laws, and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) manages permits for interacting with sea turtles, their nests and eggs.

Florida beaches are essential nesting habitats, and visitors are encouraged to follow guidelines to minimize disturbance to nesting sites and hatchlings. Visitors should avoid using bright lights on the beach at night during nesting season, as it can disorient both nesting females and hatchlings.

Florida's sea turtles face various threats, including habitat loss, pollution, boat strikes, and climate change. Human actions, such as beach development and pollution, can negatively impact nesting sites and hatchling survival.

The Florida Aquarium has a dedicated Sea Turtle Conservation Program focused on rescuing, rehabilitating, and releasing injured or stranded sea turtles. Only about 10% of nests are visibly marked, and only about one in a thousand hatchlings reach adulthood, highlighting the challenges these creatures face.