Panama Finca La Gloria (2022 Crop)

Caramel, crème brûlée, dark chocolate, almond

Bag Weight	60 KG BAG
Harvest Season	2021/22
Status	Spot
Lot Number	P609509-1

Alameda, CA: Out of Stock Bag(s)

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About This Coffee

In the shadows of the Volcano Baru and Horqueta Mountain, in the Boquete highlands of Panama, coffee has been growing on Finca La Gloria for nearly 120 years. Typica, Caturra, and a small amount of Geisha grow under tall native shade trees and the watchful eye of farmer, Norberto Suarez. The farm is part of a diverse ecosystem that includes a wide variety of flora and wildlife, including white-neck monkeys, venison, rabbits and many native birds. Four natural springs either originate or run across the estate, which help make the soil rich and well balanced. At the end of each harvest day cherries are delivered Beneficios de Café de Boquete for processing. Norberto manages the mill, which he owns along with his sibling who are also coffee farmers.

Country of Origin	Panama
Harvest Season	2021/22
Coffee Grade	PAN CA WA SHB
Bag Type	Grain Pro / Ecotact
Plant Species	Arabica
Processing	Washed
Variety	Caturra, Typica

Region	Boquete
Farm Name	Finca La Gloria
Soil	Volcanic

History of Coffee in Panama

There are some indications that green coffee first arrived in Panama as early as 1742, but the first attempts at commercial cultivation didn’t occur until the 1780’s. Planting at low altitudes around the port city of Portobelo, these efforts failed. It would be another 100 years, when coffee was planted in the highlands around the Volcano “Baru,” before commercial cultivation of Panama coffee was successful; however, nearly all coffee grown in Panama was used for internal consumption and the country was better known for exporting tea. Panamanians drank more coffee than they grew and had to import coffee to meet demand until the 1940’s. Exports grew slowly over the years, peaking in 1996 at 181,000 bags. Although there have been a few spikes since then, exports have settled down around 50,000 bags for the last 10 years as producers shifted their focus from volume to quality. More than 50% of coffee production is still consumed domestically.

Growing Coffee in Panama

Panama coffee grows in the west, near the border with Costa Rica in the highlands of Chiriqui, which means “Valley of the Moon.” Most coffee grows in two areas near the volcano Buru: Boquete and Volcan-Candela above 1,500 masl. Many coffee estates in Panama are 30-50 hectares and many coffee families are descendant of American and European immigrants, but there are indigenous farmers and farms as small as a few hectares. Most Panama coffee is washed and sun or machine dried. Panama grows Typica, Caturra, Catuai, Bourbon, San Ramon, Pache, Mundo Novo and, of course Geisha.