Panama Coffee: How to Find the Best Coffee from this Hidden Gem

Panama may be most famous for its hats, the canal, and a great Van Halen song, but it also produces some exceptional coffee. in particular, the panama geisha variety of coffee has become the standard-bearer for high-quality panama coffee and is widely regarded as one of the best in the world. so if you want to know more about this hidden specialty coffee grower, you’re in the right place.

Coffee has been produced in Panama for over 200 years, so why did it take so long for it to rise to prominence on the world stage? And why is Panamanian coffee still absent from the radars of many coffee lovers?

Reading: Best panama coffee

We have all the answers, including the history of coffee in Panama and the best beans from this often overlooked coffee nation. Read on for everything you need to know about one of Central America’s hidden gems.

surrounded by absolute superstars from coffee producing countries like costa rica and colombia, panama is hardly seen. but ignore Panamanian coffee at your own peril.

Panama’s world-famous geisha coffee beans caught the world’s attention in the early 2000s for good reason. And despite its small size, Panama has some of the most interesting microclimates in the Americas for growing coffee.

So, take this natural bounty and add to it the desire to produce premium quality coffee beans that showcase the Chiriquí volcanic region. the result? a recipe for amazing cups of coffee.

if you’ve seen or heard of panama coffee, it’s probably been the insanely expensive geisha variety of coffee beans. so why the astronomical price? they’re worth it? read on while we spill the beans…

and, if you want to see how panama compares to other countries in the americas and their coffee prowess, then we’ve got that covered here.

Most panama coffee will be bursting with citrus and floral flavors. the body is light with a delicate and complex finish. it lends itself to most brewing methods, making it a great everyday coffee choice.

Panama geisha coffee is a much more special kind of drink. it has an almost tea-like body, and takes the citrus and floral notes of panama coffee and bumps it up to a 10. you might see it compared to earl gray tea but to be honest that does a huge disservice to both beverages . .

In terms of making panama geisha coffee beans, it’s best to keep things simple. it’s a bit like tasting single malt whisky: less is more. so to really get the best out of your specialty coffee beans, stay away from milk, foam, sweeteners, etc., as these will only distract from the great taste.

In the early 2000s, when the price of coffee was relatively low, the panama specialty coffee associationorganized a competition called “the best of panama”. The best lots of coffee were ranked and then posted on the Panama Specialty Coffee online auction in an attempt to generate interest in premium Panama Coffee.

a farm called hacienda la esmeralda, owned by the peterson family, had been growing a different variety called “geisha” for several years. But its participation in the Panamanian coffee competition brought the Geisha variety of coffee beans to worldwide attention. they then won the competition 4 years in a row from 2004 to 2007, then again in 2009 and 2010.

Other Panamanian coffee brands have capitalized on hacienda la esmeralda’s immense success, rapidly growing the market for high-end specialty coffees with detailed flavor profiles from Panamanian microlots.

As a result, the price of geisha coffee hacienda la esmeralda skyrocketed. in 2013, it reached dizzying heights of $350.25/lb, making it comfortably the most expensive auctioned coffee in the world. so does the flavor profile match the price? well, the geisha variety is certainly one of a kind: extremely floral, bursting with citrus yet quite tea-like in body.

Due to the great success of Hacienda La Esmeralda’s Panama Geisha Coffee, you will now find the Geisha Coffee Bean Plant in Panama and Central America more widely. the hope is that they can get a better price thanks to hacienda la esmeralda’s quality and excellent marketing. This has generally been true: Geisha coffee beans tend to command higher prices than other Arabica coffee varieties.

While most have the option to buy pre-ground, we always recommend choosing whole bean coffee. Grinding your own coffee allows you to get the most out of your delicious single origin panama coffee and to match grinding with your preferred preparation method.

panama volcanic coffee: best overall

if you like a bolder cup of coffee to start your morning, this offering from volcanica is a great place to start. Volcanica has a large selection of high quality single origin coffees so you are in good hands when exploring what Panama coffee has to offer.

volcanica sources and blends the coffee beans from several smallholder coffee farms in the mountainous region of Boquete, considered among the best coffee producers in the world. After being washed and processed, Volcana Medium roasts the beans to bring out their aroma and acidity.

By blending coffees from different microclimates in the region, this Panamanian coffee makes a beautifully complex yet well-balanced cup. Compared to other coffee brands from Panama, this offering has a bit more body and still shows off the fruity and floral notes the country is famous for.

Tropical fruit flavors give way to caramel, fig and honey. All in all, it’s a great everyday coffee, and our best panama coffee overall, thanks to bright, refreshing acidity and full body.

esmeralda hacienda geisha private collection

If you’re going to try panama geisha coffee, it makes sense to buy it from the original farm (hacienda la esmeralda) that started the geisha coffee craze.

the special emerald geisha is their main offering and it sells for unbelievably high prices. But the private collection at Hacienda La Esmeralda remains exceptional in its own right. the difference is the microlot it comes from.

This year at auction, a batch of naturally processed panama geisha coffee beans sold for $601/lb! so getting to taste authentic geisha coffee at a reasonable price is a real feat not to be missed. If you or your loved one is a coffee aficionado and you need the perfect gift, Emerald Geisha Coffee is a great option that everyone should try at least once.

Taste-wise, you can expect delicate citrus and fruity notes with an intensely floral nose. the light body is reminiscent of tea and has a very smooth finish.

Panamanian single-origin boquete coffee, out of the ordinary

Grey’s specialty Panamanian coffee comes from the country’s most famous producing region, Boquete. The farm – or coffee farm – can be found in the beautiful and picturesque Parque La Amisted National Park. This biodiversity protected area features a 500-year-old tree at its center.

Next to this old tree are guava and tropical fruit trees that provide a perfect canopy for coffee plants to grow in the shade. the nearly 100-hectare farm predominantly cultivates the typica variety since its introduction to the area more than 200 years ago. however, there are also 5 hectares of geisha coffee plants.

Grown between 4,500 and 5,500 feet above sea level, this washed processed coffee has developed a deep complexity. it is distinctly Panamanian in its exciting and complex style with bright floral notes, a delicate body and a savory citrus character.

fresh roasted, boquete panama

According to Arabica coffee farming standards, this coffee from Panama is grown at very low altitudes, between 1,200 and 1,600 feet above sea level. Here you will find the Lerida urbanization on the slopes of the Barú volcano. but don’t let the low altitudes put you off, these freshly roasted coffee beans offer plenty to get excited about.

The Casa Ruiz family estate benefits from a rare microclimate that creates amazing tasting coffee beans. the refreshing mists allow the slow ripening of the coffee cherries, developing delicious complex flavors. in your cup, you’ll taste the sweetness of brown sugar, followed by buttered pecans and tangerine.

after roasting in the united states, freshly roasted coffee beans are flushed with nitrogen before sealing. This keeps it fresh, and even when we buy through Amazon, we always find that the resulting coffee retains its vibrancy and flavor. Not doing so would go against your brand!

The Ruiz family, which manages the farm, not only grows high-quality coffee, but is also one of the founding donors to the Ngaber literacy program. The program supports the Ngabe, the indigenous population, who also work on the farm during the busy harvest period.

kotowa geisha organic coffee

kotowa farms are family owned and established by a canadian, alexander duncan macintyre, in the early 20th century. the farm and its coffee are named “kotowa” from an indigenous word meaning “mountains,” and there are certainly plenty around.

It’s not always easy to get your hands on these geisha coffee beans, as only about 50 pounds are produced each year. In addition, its light body and intoxicating aromas make it a highly prized product. so if the idea tickles your taste buds, order quickly before it’s gone.

Traditionally grown at 5,500 feet above sea level, only the ripest coffee cherries are selected during harvest. a process that is done entirely by hand to ensure only the best make it through the cut. After harvesting the geisha coffee trees, the beans are naturally processed to preserve their natural quality and flavor.

The care and attention that goes into naturally processed Geisha coffee beans is crystal clear, highlighting the complexity of the Panama Geisha coffee variety. Kotowa coffee beans are also certified by the Rain Forest Alliance, something that is not very common in Panama.

Although Panama is a relatively large country compared to its neighbors, it does not have the same amount and quality of land suitable for growing coffee. So, most Arabica coffee is produced in just 3 small regions in the Chiriquí province in the west, on the border with Costa Rica.

There is a lot of Robusta coffee grown at lower altitudes in other areas of Panama. but this is of low quality and is not generally exported, it is only used for Panamanian coffee consumers.

hole

The most famous Panamanian coffee region is Boquete. it is located in the west of the country on the eastern side of the barú volcano, an active stratovolcano and the highest mountain in panama.

As a tourist in Panama, you are likely to visit the picturesque town of Boquete. but it is the centuries-old techniques of coffee cultivation that have really put the area on the map. Today, Boquete is known for hosting some of the most exclusive cafes, something Boqueteños take great pride in.

This area has several different microclimates depending on elevation and aspect. but, in general, it is relatively cool and there are frequent fogs that delay the ripening of the coffee cherries. some people smarter than us argue that this mimics the effects of growing coffee at a much higher altitude. Right or wrong, it creates incredible complexity in the coffee beans from this region.

The altitudes here vary dramatically, from 1,300 to 6,200 feet above sea level. Coffee farms in the area grow the Geisha coffee plant along with Typica, Catura, Catuai, Bourbon, and San Roman varieties.

candle-volcano

In the highlands of Chiriqui, not far from Boquete, is Volcan-Candela. its name comes from a combination of the barú volcano and the city of candela stone.

Proximity to the volcano is key to the success of these two areas of Panama’s coffee industry. About 450 years ago, the Barú volcano erupted, filling the surrounding areas with nutrient-rich rock fragments. this makes the soil perfect for growing coffee and food, especially when combined with regular rainfall. In fact, most of the Panamanian food is grown in Volcan-Candela for this reason.

Coffee farms in Volcan-Candela can be found at altitudes of 3,900 to 5,200 feet above sea level. similar to boquete, the coffee varieties that are grown are typica, caturra, catuai, bourbon, geisha and san roman.

rebirth

Renaissance is the third largest coffee-growing region in the province of Chiriquí in Panama. It is located on the border with Costa Rica, just west of Boquete and Volcan-Candela. Although this is a very small region, so it is not a large producer of Panamanian specialty coffee, it still plays an important role in the country’s coffee industry.

Typica, Caturra, Catuai, Bourbon, Geisha and San Roman coffee varieties are grown here between 1,100 and 1,400 meters above sea level.

In recent years, interest from specialty coffee growers and buyers has really seen the industry expand. which is great for the local economy and for us coffee lovers alike.

Panama’s diverse geography means that there are several distinct microclimates within the coffee growing regions. and there are some incredibly skilled farmers growing world class coffee in these areas. As a coffee drinker, this means that there are some exceptional quality Panamanian coffees, but the prices are also relatively high.

the price of panama coffee has risen due to the increase in the cost of land. This is the result of the growing number of Americans looking to buy homes in a beautiful and relatively cheap country that is also politically stable. therefore, many farms have been sold to expatriates as vacation or retirement homes.

Labor laws in Panama are also of a higher standard than in many coffee producing nations. As coffee pickers are paid a higher salary, the cost of coffee increases. but this means you can be more confident that those who grow and harvest your coffee are paid fairly.

However, this changed as the focus shifted away from producing the largest volume of coffee possible to growing smaller batches of very high quality coffee. And, as Panamanian coffee began to gain international recognition, specialty coffee shops began to appear, including the ubiquitous Starbucks.

This change appears to be generational: older Panamanians have a very different idea of what makes “good” coffee compared to more hipster youth. With the increase in tourism in Panama, more and more quality-focused coffee shops have appeared. and now there is much more interest in drinking premium panama coffees within the country itself.

cafe united has several locations in panama city where you can try some amazingly good micro-lots of coffee from the best producers in panama. In addition, they also have a location in Washington.

From the great natural flavors of the terroir to the impressive quality of Panama’s geisha coffee and the exciting climates around the Barú volcano – Panama is a hidden gem of a coffee country.

Compared to other coffee-growing nations, you’ll probably have to pay a bit more for your coffee. but this is often due to superior quality and better wages for farm workers. we are never against paying more if it means better working conditions for farmers and their helpers.

When it comes to panama geisha coffee, you will always pay more. It’s now such a big name in the coffee industry that Geisha coffee beans command a premium price: about $9 a cup inside Panama or $18 outside, at the very least.

but if you love good coffee, then you must try one of the best geisha micro batches. Even if you’re a bit skeptical but have a bad case of fomo, we highly recommend it. Drinking quality geisha coffee beans is an experience like almost no other in the world of coffee and who can say no to that?

panama coffee has many interesting options to explore. so the only question is where will you start?