Best of Panama is Panama’s national coffee competition, organized by the Specialty Coffee Association of Panama (SCAP). First held in 1996, the 2026 edition was its 30th. Producer members submit their finest lots, which are cupped blind by a national jury and then an international panel before the winning lots go to a global online auction.
How the Competition Works
Best of Panama judges three categories: Geisha Washed, Geisha Natural, and Varietals, which covers non Geisha varieties such as Catuai, Caturra, Pacamara, Typica, and Laurina. Each category crowns its own top scoring lot. A separate Copa Panamá award goes to the producer with the highest accumulated score across every lot they entered, regardless of category, recognizing consistency rather than a single standout lot. The 2026 edition drew 180 lots from 73 participating members.
Past Winners
2026 Geisha Washed: Lamastus Family Estates, Elida Estate, Boquete, Panama (the record setting $18,004/kg auction lot itself went to a buyer named Grand Cru, not a confirmed retail shop; this links to LF Coffee’s own Elida Geisha Torre, the same washed lot from the same plot, from the current harvest)
2026 Geisha Natural: María Antonella Amoruso C., Finca Lérida, Boquete, Panama (95.63 points; the auction lot went to a buyer named RULI Coffee, not a confirmed retail shop; this links to Boquete Coffee Traders’ Finca Lérida Geisha, which cites this exact 2026 win on its own product page)
2026 Varietals: Familia Altieri, Altieri Specialty Coffee, Boquete, Panama
2026 Copa Panamá (highest accumulated score): Hacienda La Esmeralda, Boquete, Panama (the winning Tumaco lot went to a buyer named SAZA Coffee, not a confirmed retail shop; this links to Rosso Coffee Roasters’ rotating lineup of Hacienda La Esmeralda micro lots, not the specific winning lot)