Panamanian coffee enjoys a very high profile in the global coffee market, especially the Geisha variety. In 2005, through the Best of Panama (BOP) competition and auction, Geisha stood out with its outstanding flavor and performance, and since then the Geisha variety has become famous overnight.

Panama’s terrain is rugged and crisscrossed with valleys. Apart from the coastal plains, most of the country consists of mountains, and it boasts abundant forests, rivers, and numerous volcanoes, all of which provide ideal growing conditions for coffee trees.

Located near the equator, Panama has a tropical maritime climate, with humid days and cool nights. The annual average temperature ranges between 23°C and 27°C, and the average annual rainfall is 1,500–2,500 mm, divided mainly into dry and rainy seasons. Due to its geographical environment, Panama features complex and varied microclimates. The east-to-west orientation of the land allows cold air currents to flow over the central mountain range and converge above 1,900 meters, creating a very unique microclimate in the Boquete and Volcán Candela areas. Moreover, the surrounding land in these regions is rich in nutrients due to volcanic ash, and these fertile soils provide perfect growing conditions for coffee, making them the main coffee-producing areas in Panama.

Boquete

Boquete is arguably the most well-known coffee region in Panama, home to many renowned farms such as Hacienda La Esmeralda, Finca Duncan, and Finca Elida, among others. In recent years, there have also been several rising-star farms, such as Finca Abu.

The name of the Abu Estate is in honor of the grandfather of the estate owner, José Guillermo Luttrell Tedman, with “Abu” being the Spanish abbreviation for “grandfather.” The current owner, José Luttrell, continues the family’s dream of growing high-quality coffee. The estate first participated in the BOP competition in

Currently, Best Coffee has purchased and cupped the natural-processed Catuai beans from Abuh Estate. The aroma features slight fermentation notes, along with hints of grape, red wine, and spices. On the palate, it offers flavors of wine-infused chocolate, black grapes, cherries, and nuts.