A Panama Geisha lot just sold for $18,004 a kilogram

The Best of Panama 2026 auction wrapped up September 24 with about $3.04 million in sales across 50 lots. The top bid went to Elida Geisha Torre from Lamastus Family Estates: $18,004 per kilogram, or about $270,060 for a 15-kilogram lot. Every Geisha lot sold for more than $1,500 per kilogram. Buyers from 11 countries won coffee, and Chinese bidders took the largest share.

Most of us will never buy a lot like that. What it shows is where the top of specialty coffee sits right now, and why a really good bag from a small roaster can feel expensive even though it's nowhere near auction money. Prices at the luxury end keep climbing, while grocery coffee stays high for its own reasons. Knowing that spread helps when you're picking your next bag.