Panamanian coffee enjoys a very high profile in the global coffee market, largely due to the efforts of the Specialty Coffee Association of Panama (SCAP), which designs and organizes the Best of Panama (BOP) competition. Since its launch, the competition has continuously featured high-quality coffee beans and achieved high auction prices, enabling Panamanian producers to engage more with the international community and build their reputation. In 2005, Geisha stood out with its exceptional flavor and performance, and since then, the Geisha variety has become world-renowned.

Panama

The country has a tropical maritime climate, with humid days and cool nights. The average annual temperature ranges between 23°C and 27°C, and the average annual rainfall is 1,500–2,500 mm. Influenced by the geographical environment, it features complex and varied microclimates, all of which provide ideal growing conditions for coffee trees.

Coffee Growing Regions

Among them, Boquete can be considered the most well-known coffee region in Panama, as it is home to many renowned estates such as Finca Esmeralda, Finca Duncan, and Finca Elida, among others.

Although the Volcán region is not as well-known as Boquete, it is located on the eastern side of the Barú volcano, unlike Boquete which is also situated on Barú. The Volcán region benefits from a northern mountain barrier, making it difficult for Atlantic moisture to reach the area. As a result, the region is relatively dry but enjoys abundant sunshine, with coffee grown in fertile volcanic soil at elevations between 1200 and 1900 meters. In recent years, coffee from the Volcán region has gradually gained recognition in the specialty coffee market. For example, Finca Carmen, which won the washed category championship at the 2023 BOP, also achieved second and fourth place in the natural category at the 2024 BOP this year.

Carmen Estate Coffee