The Best of Panama auction has just ended and Coffee Klatch along with six other roasters have won the famous Esmeralda Especial World famous coffee estate, Hacienda La Esmealda, set another record when its Esmeralda Especial coffee sold for a stunning $130 a pound during an online auction on May 29.

    The Panama coffee producer was recognized for producing the world's best coffee during the Specialty Coffee Association of America's (SCAA) 2007 Roasters Guild Cupping Pavilion Competition on May 7, an event Hacienda La Esmeralda also captured in 2005 and 2006. This year marks the third time in four years that the Panama coffee producer sold coffee for a world record-setting price.

After nearly eight hours of negotiating by six different bidders, 10 bags of Esmeralda Especial - each weighing 50 pounds - sold for $65,000.

    "Today's sale of Esmeralda Especial affirms the decision made by 30 experienced roasters during our recent SCAA Cupping Pavilion event, which Hacienda La Esmeralda won this year," said SCAA President, Dawn Jantsch. "The sale also supports the position specialty coffee holds as a premier beverage in the culinary industry."

    Price Peterson, owner of Hacienda La Esmeralda, said, "The response of buyers participating in today's auction underscores the current demand for premier specialty coffee. The exceptional demand for Esmeralda Especial as well as the other coffees entered in this auction also serves to raise the awareness of the premier quality of specialty coffee that is grown by the farmers of Panama."

    The international jury, which included our Roastmaster Mike, said the following about this one of a kind coffee
"Intensely fragrant and aromatic, with exotic jasmine and orange-blossom notes, it has bright, sweet acidity, and is explosively floral on the palate." Our own cupping notes include passion fruit, peach, and honeysuckle.  Perfectly sweet and balanced.