When people think of prestigious food and drink competitions, they often imagine fine wines from France, whiskies from Scotland, or cheeses from Italy. Yet tucked away in the cool volcanic mountains of western Panama is a competition that has become every bit as respected as the greatest culinary awards on Earth. Each year, coffee producers from across Panama prepare for months, sometimes years, hoping that a tiny lot of beans from their farm will earn recognition from some of the world's finest coffee judges. Winning isn't simply about receiving a trophy. A gold medal in Panama's coffee competitions can transform an unknown farm into an internationally famous producer almost overnight, attracting buyers from Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, Australia, Europe, and the United States who are willing to pay astonishing prices for just a few kilograms of exceptional coffee.
Panama has earned a reputation for producing some of the finest specialty coffee ever grown, particularly the famous Geisha variety. Today, the country consistently produces coffees that break world price records and redefine what coffee can taste like. None of this would have happened without the competitions that encouraged farmers to chase excellence rather than quantity.
Best of Panama: The World's Most Prestigious Coffee Competition
The undisputed king of Panamanian coffee competitions is the Best of Panama (BOP). Organized every year by the Specialty Coffee Association of Panama (SCAP), the competition began in 1996 with the goal of showcasing the country's finest coffees through rigorous blind tasting. Today it is considered by many professionals to be the most prestigious specialty coffee competition anywhere in the world.
Unlike ordinary agricultural contests, Best of Panama is an incredibly scientific process. Farmers submit their finest coffee lots, often representing only a tiny fraction of their annual harvest. Every sample is anonymized, roasted under strict conditions, and evaluated without judges knowing which farm produced it. National judges first evaluate every coffee before the highest-scoring lots advance to an international panel made up of elite coffee buyers, roasters, Q-graders, baristas, and sensory experts from around the globe. Every stage is carefully monitored to ensure fairness and consistency.
Winning Best of Panama instantly places a farm among the elite of the coffee world.
The Three Main Competition Categories
Although categories have evolved over time, modern Best of Panama competitions generally revolve around three major divisions.
Washed Geisha
This category celebrates Geisha coffees processed using the washed method. The process emphasizes clarity, floral aromas, elegant acidity, and remarkable sweetness. These coffees often display famous tasting notes including jasmine, bergamot, peach, orange blossom, honey, and tropical fruits.
Many of the highest-scoring coffees in competition history have come from this category.
Natural Geisha
Natural processing dries the coffee cherry with the fruit still attached, creating coffees that are often richer, fruitier, and more intensely aromatic.
Winning natural Geishas may display flavors resembling strawberries, blueberries, cherries, passionfruit, mango, wine, chocolate, and exotic spices while still maintaining remarkable balance.
Varietals
Not every great Panamanian coffee is Geisha.
The varietal category recognizes outstanding coffees made from other varieties including Catuai, Typica, Pacamara, Bourbon, SL varieties, and numerous experimental cultivars.
This category encourages innovation and proves that Panama's excellence extends far beyond Geisha alone.
National Cupping Championship
Before international judges ever arrive, Panama holds its National Cupping stage.
Here, experienced Panamanian coffee experts evaluate every submitted lot. Only the highest-scoring coffees move forward to the international rounds.
This stage is already extremely competitive because many outstanding coffees never make it beyond the national judging. Even reaching the international phase is considered a major achievement for producers.
International Jury
Perhaps the most exciting part of Best of Panama is the International Cupping.
Experts from dozens of countries travel to Boquete to taste the finalist coffees under blind conditions.
These judges include:
Championship baristas
Coffee importers
Green coffee buyers
Roasters
Sensory scientists
Certified Q-graders
Specialty coffee educators
Their scores ultimately determine the winners.
Because these professionals purchase coffee for some of the world's most respected specialty roasters, receiving high scores has immediate commercial value.
Best of Panama Awards
The award ceremony recognizes numerous achievements.
These include:
Best Washed Geisha
Best Natural Geisha
Best Varietal
Overall highest score
Top-ranking producers
Finalists within each category
For many growers, simply finishing in the Top 10 becomes a valuable marketing achievement that remains part of their reputation forever.
The Famous Online Auction
Perhaps the most extraordinary aspect of Best of Panama comes after the trophies have been awarded.
Winning coffees enter an international online auction.
Buyers from around the world compete fiercely to purchase these tiny lots.
Unlike ordinary coffee markets, where prices might be only a few dollars per kilogram, Best of Panama auctions regularly produce prices measured in thousands—or even tens of thousands—of dollars per kilogram. The competition has repeatedly set world auction records for coffee prices.
Barista and Brewers Cup Championships
Alongside Best of Panama, SCAP also organizes national Barista and Brewers Cup championships.
These competitions focus not on growing coffee but on preparing it.
Competitors demonstrate:
Espresso preparation
Milk beverages
Signature coffee drinks
Pour-over brewing
Technical precision
Presentation skills
Coffee knowledge
Sensory evaluation
The winners often go on to represent Panama in international coffee championships.
Why Winning Matters So Much
Unlike many agricultural awards that bring only local recognition, winning a Panamanian coffee competition can dramatically change a producer's future.
A successful farm may receive:
International media attention
Long-term buyers
Premium export contracts
Invitations to coffee festivals
Increased tourism
Global recognition
Higher prices for future harvests
Many famous Panamanian estates became internationally recognized after performing well in Best of Panama.
The Farms Everyone Watches
Every competition attracts entries from legendary estates such as:
Hacienda La Esmeralda
Elida Estate
Finca Sophia
Janson Coffee
Finca Deborah
Altieri Specialty Coffee
Auromar
Carmen Estate
Yet each year new producers also surprise judges, proving that outstanding coffee can emerge from lesser-known farms as well.
More Than a Competition
For visitors to Boquete and Volcán, these competitions are much more than industry events. During the competition period, coffee professionals from every corner of the world gather in Chiriquí. Cafés become filled with international buyers discussing flavor notes, farmers proudly present their latest harvests, and conversations revolve around fermentation techniques, elevations, varieties, and roasting profiles. The excitement is infectious, and it gives travelers a chance to witness the center of one of the world's most remarkable coffee cultures.
Panama may produce only a tiny fraction of the world's coffee, but through competitions like Best of Panama it has become one of the industry's greatest success stories. These awards celebrate far more than a beverage—they recognize years of careful farming, perfect mountain climates, scientific precision, and extraordinary dedication. For coffee lovers, winning a Best of Panama award represents one of the highest honors imaginable, and every harvest brings fresh anticipation that another tiny Panamanian coffee lot might once again redefine what the perfect cup can be.