Panama coffee was historically under-rated and overlooked. That perception has been corrected in recent years with the outstanding Best of Panama competition held each year, attracting global competition for the best lots, and spectacular prices. The Gesha cultivar produced in some of the small coffee estates has also garnered heaps of attention for it's unique floral cup character.

Panama coffees are brightly toned with vivid floral aromatics and clean fruited notes. They outcup many higher priced coffees and the cup character is obvious, quality is consistent. Cheaper Panamas sold as BEP are a staple of higher-end commercial roasters and lower-end specialty roasters. There are many lower-grown Panamas that are ubiquitous in the U.S. market and of little interest to us here. It's just the Boquete coffees from the Chirqui district, ones from small family-owned farms that produce the truly distinct, unique coffees. They employ N'gbe Indians for the picking season, who will come to the coffee farms to work under some of the best wage standards and work laws in Central America.

For more information on Panama coffees, see our review of the 2002 Panama Cupping Competition. And also see my slide show of the 2003 cupping We have a page about the #1 2004 coffee, Jaramillo Especial, and a page about the 2004 Cupping. And ... boy this is getting to be quite a list ... the January 2006 crop visit to check our small lot coffee, and visit the Gesha trees at Hacienda La Esmeralda. Also see my April 2006 Best of Panama competition trip including pictures of the 1800+ meter Carmen Estate coffee. In fact - just check out the travelogue section of the Coffee Library for all the trips!