Boquete Mountain Safari Your Path to Adventure

Coffee Tour Boquete, Panama • Not Just a Cup of Coffee

Coffee and Boquete, Panama are synonymous. The rich volcanic valley soil combined with the high elevation and cool mountain air make Boquete one of the best places in the world to grow coffee. There are many private estates doing coffee tours; from 2 hours to 4 hours long. What is a coffee tour? The pictures below might help you understand what our coffee tour is all about. 





 

http://www.boquetemountainsafaritours.com/index1.ht

To Book a Coffee Tour, or an Adventure Stay in Boquete Panama

Panama Coffee Soon to be a Rare Commodity

Your early morning jump start to the day is going to cost you a lot more in 2011. 

Record rainfalls during the past year have dramatically reduced coffee production in Panama.

 One major producer forecasts that prices for a pound of specialty coffee will rise as much as 20 percent in the coming months.
There are 62 coffee brands produced in Panama, mainly in Chiriquí including the famed Geisha coffee that was auctioned last year at a world record price of over $170 a pound
A normal year's coffee harvest is 186,000 quintals. This year it is expected to fall to 156,000 quintals.
Damage to the leaves of plants which have become affected by mould is the primary cause.

http://www.newsroompanama.com/business/agriculture/2198-panama-coffee-prices-heading-for-a-20-percent-increase-.html

If you are coming to Boquete, Panama book a coffee tour and buy coffee at the source.

http://www.boquetemountainsafaritours.com/coffeetours.html

Shade Grown Coffee from Panama Helps Sustain the Song Bird Population

As the rainy season in Panama begins to wind down, the coffee season is starting to heat up. This season has been a particularly rainy one, so the coffee is coming early. However, the fresh crop of roasted coffee is still months away. Panama's Chiriqui Highlands is home to hundreds of small estates producing some of the best coffee in the world. The elevation, climate, soil and dedication to superior coffee has made Boquete Coffee prized around the world. One reason the coffee is so good is also due to the fruit trees.

Many estates were sold off during the construction boom, only to have that industry falter and the coffee industry boom. Estates that weren't sold for development are now turning them around again for coffee. If you come to Boquete and travel to the Jarramillo side of the valley, you can walk thru hectares (or acres) of land with wild coffee and oranges. Back in the day, the orange trees and coffee plants created a symbiotic relationship to grow coffee. Much of the coffee in the Boquete Valley is shade grown by default.


Traditionally, all coffee was shade grown. Most varieties of coffee are naturally intolerant of direct sunlight, and prefer a canopy of sun-filtering shade trees. The trees not only protect the coffee from direct sun, they also mulch the soil with their fallen leaves which helps retain soil moisture. The nitrogen-fixing shade trees enhance the soil, and also provide habitat for birds. The birds in turn provide natural insect control with their constant foraging. This sustainable method of farming uses little or no chemical fertilizers, pesticides or herbicides. In 1972, new hybrid varieties of coffee were developed to help increase production of the valuable crop. These new varieties produced significantly more coffee beans, were smaller and easier to harvest, and produced best in direct sunlight. Many growers cut their shade trees and switched to the new varieties. Of the 6 million acres of coffee lands, 60% have been stripped of shade trees since 1972. Only the small, low-tech farms, often too poor to afford chemicals, preserved their shade trees. Unfortunately, the new varieties of "sun" coffee came with an additional cost: the hybrids were dependent on high doses of pesticides and chemical fertilizers. Soil erosion, water runoff and soil depletion caused producers to clear vast tracts of rainforest for new soil to plant, and it became apparent that this new method of growing coffee was unsustainable. The loss of the shade trees on such a large scale also caused an estimated 20% decline in migratory bird populations in the last ten years, due to habitat loss. The diminished songbird population has been noted as far away as 1500 miles from the coffee growing regions. In 1996, the movement to support shade grown coffee was sparked by the Smithsonian Institute's Migratory Bird Center, which gathered environmentalists, farmers and coffee companies to address the problem and promote awareness of shade coffee.

Link to Smithsonian Tropical Research: http://nationalzoo.si.edu/scbi/migratorybirds/science_article/default.cfm?id=47

Link to Shade Grown article: http://eartheasy.com/eat_shadegrown_coffee.htm

Some of the larger estates that are shade grown in Boquete are: Carmen Estate, Hacienda la Esmeralda, and Elida Estate; although there are many more.

To understand more about coffee and it's origins try a coffee tour when visiting Boquete:

http://www.boquetemountainsafaritours.com/coffeetours.html

 

Panama Coffee Growers Try to Make a Difference

Boquete, Panama has some of the most expensive, and best, coffee in the world. The volcanic soil combined with the elevation and micro climates is the perfect environment for growing coffee. Over the past few years with the increased awareness of a 'good cup of coffee', some of Boquete's growers have realized a little more money in their pockets. With the help of the world market some of the small growers are trying to pass some of the profits on to the workers. The article below by Nicki Lisa Cole, in Conducive Mag, explains how difficult it is to actually make money as a small farmer in the coffee business. Many famers in Panama have sold out to developers, and some of the small estates are barely breaking even. However, that hasn't stopped Price Peterson, of Hacienda la Esmeralda, the winner of the most expensive coffee bought at auction, from putting people first: 

"First comes sustainability of people. Our business practices must always be such that our products will readily sell at a level which will keep everyone (owners and workers) fed, clothed, educated and in good health. Beyond that we strive that everyone has a degree of security in their lives to permit a home and a pension at retirement. When this degree of sustainability of people is defined, the rest tends to follow as day the night."

 He is not the only coffee estate owner to put best prectices first. Rich Lipner, of Finca Dos Jefes and Ricardo Koyner, of Kotowa coffee, provide above average living quarters for their workers, and Ricardo includes health care and education.

It also helps the smaller farmers, when you visit Boquete and tour the smaller estates, to buy coffee at the source. Thereby enabling the farmers to actually sell their coffee locally, and realize the end of market price; which is much greater than selling green and having the middle men along the way take the largest chunck of change.

To better understand the coffee market read Nicki's article:

What’s Behind Your Cup of Joe?

By Nicki Lisa Cole

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2010 CONDUCIVE

According to the International Coffee Organization (ICO), the U.S. is the world’s leading importer of coffee, bringing in over 3 billion pounds of “green,” or pre-roasted coffee in 2009, which accounts for about a quarter of global imports. An annual telephone survey conducted by the National Coffee Association found that 126 million adults drink coffee everyday, each consuming an average of 3.3 cups daily. If you do the math, that translates to over 415 million cups of coffee drunk everyday. Where does all this coffee come from? According to ICO statistics for 2009, Brazil is the largest exporter, accounting for nearly a quarter of all exports. The second largest exporter is Vietnam, constituting 19.4%, followed by Colombia (9%) and Indonesia (8.7%). Peru, Honduras, India, and Guatemala each account for about 4%, Uganda and Ethiopia produce 3.5% each, while Mexico accounts for about 2.4%. Nicaragua and Costa Rica each contribute 1.5%, while Papua New Guinea, El Salvador, Kenya and Ecuador register at just under 1% each.

Despite the fact that most of us do not think about coffee in terms of numbers, these numbers are worthy of attention, as they signal the global economic significance of the coffee market. In more ways than one, coffee fuels the global economy and the system of capitalist production and consumption. In fact, it has been an important piece of this system since capitalism was introduced to the global stage. This history of coffee is one filled with mistreatment of both people and land. It took hold as a major global cash crop thanks to slave labor during the colonial era, and evidence of this legacy is visible today in very low wages and poverty level living conditions of coffee farmers and pickers around the world. Consumer awareness and industry concern led to the creation of ethical sourcing models like Fair Trade during the late 1990s, and today consumers have a variety of options if they wish to make an ethical coffee purchase. In my next article, the differences between certifications and sourcing models will be explored, and the truth behind these labels revealed. But first, let’s consider the history of the coffee we drink today.

For the complete article: http://www.conducivemag.com/2010/08/what%E2%80%99s-behind-your-cup-of-joe/

To schedule a tour with one of the small farmers in Boquete: http://www.boquetemountainsafaritours.com/coffeetours.html

A portion of the tour fee goes directly to the farmer.

BOQUETE, A Shangri-La of coffee amid cool, green mountains

Sherman's Travel Magazine, Spring 2010 • Sherman's Spotlight on Panama • By Victoria De Silverio

 

Tucked in the green Talamanca highlands on the western flank of Panama near the Costa Rican border, the winsome hamlet of Boquete enjoys springtime climes year round. And, with its cheerful avarian style cottages dotting the flowery hillsides, Boquete resembles an off-season Swiss ski village. In town, modest churches mingle with boutiques and cafés, and outfitters offer white-water rafting, hiking and birding excursions.
 But there are many happy reminders that one is in Panama, such as men crowding stands selling lottery tickets; indigenous Ngöbe-Buglé women in brightly colored embroidered dresses; and mules hauling sacks of coffee, the region’s most celebrated asset.

 

Conquistadors and gold rushers used the valley as a shortcut (boquete means “gap” or “opening”), and by 1911 Europeans had settled the town. Among them was Norwegian Tollef B. Monniche, who designed the Panama Canal’s emergency dams and founded Finca Lérida, now one of Boquete’s largest coffee plantations. Boquete’s alpine microclimates and rich volcanic soil are ideal for producing high-quality beans. In 2007, a pound of rare Panamanian geisha beans sold at an auction for an unprecedented $130, and last year prices hit $300. Smooth and sweet with notes of honey, lemongrass, lavender, jasmine, tangerine, and tea, the coffee brewed from geisha beans is singular.

 

To understand what makes Boquete coffee so special, visit some of its small family owned estates. On a Boquete Mountain Safari coffee-tasting tour,(507-6627-8829; http://www.boquetmountainsafaritours.com) guests get a closeup view of artisanal coffee production, from the bean planting to roasting, and then they taste the brew.

 

“Coffee is like a mystery,” says Finca la Milagrosa owner Tito Vargas, a local with the dirt-stained hands of a farmer and the dark steady eyes of a mystic. He named his farm Milagrosa (“miraculous”) because naysayers doubted he could grow anything on a depleted 20-acre plot with his machines made of spare parts—like the grinder that relies on a car transmission. But the proof lies in Milagrosa’s delicious coffee. At organic farm Finca Dos Jefes, California-born owner Rich Lipner sprays the trees with a brew of molasses, phosphorus, and nitrogen, and cultivates the fields according to the lunar calendar. Boquete Mountain Safari tours culminate at Finca Lérida with a cupping, a professional tasting to evaluate the aroma, body, and flavor profile of several varietals, hosted by the operation’s head of quality control Andrès Lopez. Visitors gain an appreciation for coffee’s complexity along with a quickened pulse.

 

http://www.shermanstravel.com/spotlights/Panama/Boquete

World Record Price for Panama Geisha Coffee

Boquete, Panama coffee does it again.

The "Esmeralda Special" Geisha variety re-heated the coffee market this week by breaking the world price record at $170.20 a pound. In the online auction "Best of Panama 2010, Japanese Coffee House Sazae purchased eight 50 lb bags of coffee worth $ 68,080.

 Panamanian Geisha Coffee has won first place at the auctions for six consecutive years auction in Boquete, Chiriqui "Achieving a world record price puts Panama on the map for the best coffees in the world," said Rachel Peterson, owner of Hacienda La Esmeralda. "With this we tell the world that we have a coffee with great attributes," she said.

In the online auction which lasted two hours, 20 lots of the best varieties in the country were trades with purchasers from Japan, Korea, Sweden and the United States.

The total turnover for the 20 lots was $ 148,197 and the average auction price was $12.45.

Richard Koyna, president of the Specialty Coffee Association of Panama, said the aim of the auction is to sell small lots, but at high prices.

http://www.newsroompanama.com/business/1245-world-record-price-for-panama-geisha-coffee.html

The article above is re-printed from the "Newsroom Panama".

For Coffee tours in Panama: http://www.boquetemountainsafaritours.com/coffeetours.html

For Hacienda La Esmeralda:  http://www.haciendaesmeralda.com/

Television Crew Searches Panama For Perfect Cup of Coffee

Boquete Mountain Panama - Paradise On Earth

Myste and her crew traveled the width and breath of Panama on a scouting trip in search of adventure and the perfect cup of coffee, and she found it all in the Boquete Mountain region of Panama.

Region Touts the Best & Most Expensive Coffee

Our travels took us to "heaven on earth" located in the Boquete Mountain region of Panama.  We stayed at the best kept secret in all of Central America, Valle Escondido Resort, a hide away cut out of the jungle that offered all the comforts of a first class golf and spa resort.  Our gracious hosts Sam and Thalia Taliaferro took us under their wings and gave us advice on everything ranging from where to find the best coffee in the world to investment opportunities in the paradisaical retreat.

One referral was Ricardo Koyner, President of Kotowa Coffee.  Ricardo is a third generation coffee grower in Boquete, and his plantations win awards year after year.  His plantation grows the rare Geisha coffee, and arguably markets the most expensive cup of coffee in the world; "VOGO" $500 per champagne sized bottle sold only in Japan.

Our guide for adventure was Boquete Mountain Safari Tours, who took us four wheeling all over the mountain.  Owner Bradd Ferrias is the perfect guide for exciting fun and serene beauty. 

 

We could have listened for days to Sam, Thalia, Ricardo and Brad tout the amazing history of Panama, the wonders of the Boquete area, and its fine coffee.  And, we will when we return the end of April to shoot the Panama episode of Myste Buzzed on Paradise.  

Photos and Article by the Myste Crew.

Contact Information

[email protected]

www.CoffeeLoverGuide.com

702-560-3144

 

 

Myste and the crew will return to Boquete Mountain and Panama City to complete the filming of Myste Buzzed on Paradise and to crown the Most Beautiful Latina in Panama at the Fiesta Casino in Panama City on April 24, 2010. 

After Panama, Myste is off to the Blue Mountains of Jamaica for the third in a series of six shows covering the best coffee regions in the world. Myste returns to Costa Rica on June 4 - 6, to help host the Fiesta Cup Golf Tournament for Charity, and put the finishing touches on the Costa Rica show. Other countries visited in 2010 will include Guatemala, the Antiqua region, Brazil, and Peru. 

The Comedy of Coffee from The Oatmeal

Someone sent me a link to this site. It is an interesting look at the history of coffee. For more wild and crazy ideas from "The Oatmeal" visit the web site: http://theoatmeal.com/

Disclaimer: I do not agree with all of the ideas or perspectives on The Oatmeal.

Roast Your Own Coffee at a High Elevation Organic Coffee Estate

Boquete Safari has added another totally unique coffee experience to your stay in Panama. The most popular tour in Boquete seems to be one that involves tasting some of the best coffee in the world. Cafe Ruiz, Kotowa, and Finca Lerida are the most popular names tossed around when someone inquires about a coffee tour. We started the first 3 finca coffee tour, designed after the Napa Valley wine tours and the Kona coffee tours in Hawaii.

Now one of our favorite coffee estates has started a tour that not only involves learning about the coffee process, the farm, the bean, but how to roast your own coffee. Before you begin your roasting experience you will have the opportunity to taste different coffees that have been roasted for different lengths of time, determining the color, taste and aroma of the coffee. Once your personal preference has been established, your hands on experience begins. Cafe de la Luna is a small organic coffee estate owned and operated by Rich Lipner, and ex-pat from the United States. His passion for coffee and knowledge about the process will amaze even the most educated coffee aficionado.

To read more about the coffee tour: http://www.boquetemountainsafaritours.com/coffeeroastingtour.html

Boquete, Panama: An emerging market in Agricultural Tourism (Part 1)

Ecotourism has been the "buzz" word for responsible travel related activities for a while; if you are looking for travel that supports the local economy, take a look at "Agritourism" Travel. When you search for Agri-tourism destinations on the internet, you will not find Panama on page one, or page two; although agriculture is 6.8% of GDP in Panama, compared to 1.2% in the U.S.; and is ranked by the World Tourism Organization (WTO) as one of the top performing tourist markets and destinations in the world. The two most popular searches for Agricultural Tourism on the internet are Hawaii and California . Not surprisingly because of Kona Coffee and Napa Valley, respectively.

In a country that receives the highest price per pound for coffee, at auction, Panama should be at the top of the list for Agi-tourism as well. However, unlike Hawaii, Panama ’s economy was not built on agriculture and tourism. Panama’s history has been somewhat tumultuous; dictators, coup d'état, revolutions, and of course the Canal. The Panama Canal, banking, the Colon Free Zone, container ports, and flagship registry have been at the heart of Panama’s service economy. Over the past few years there has been a sizable shift in the influx of dollars as Panama

is emerging as a world class tourist destination, and not just in Panama Cityand the Canal Zone, but to the Western Highlands, and the Atlantic and Pacific Coasts. In spite of the global financial crisis, according to the outgoing tourism Minister Ruben Blades, tourism has grown 11.7% bringing in $2.2 billion.

Panama’s most dramatic growth is expected to be in the “Ecotourism” sector. With 29 percent of the countries territory protected by 15 National Parks, Wildife Refuges, and Reserves; it is one of the most comprehensive wildlife management systems in Central America. This tiny isthmus has more bird species than North America and Europe combined.

Over the past few years, the charming little village of Boquete, in the mountain highlands of Panama, has become an expat haven. To accommodate all the new arrivals, developments have sprung up all over the valley. Many of the coffee farms have been sold to make way for development. And then BOOM, La Hacienda Esmeralda coffee takes first place by the Specialty Coffee Association of America, and snags $130 a pound green at auction.

Panama coffee has hit the International market by storm. The coffee that made this incredible buzz is a variety called Geisha. Not a new variety, originally from Ethiopia . But the micro-climates in Boquete and the different processing have made it unique to Panama . Now, all the coffee farmers are excited, everybody is planting a little Geisha on their farm hoping to be the next “Best in the World”.

http://www.portfolio.com/culture-lifestyle/culture-inc/food-drink/2007/09/13/Most-Expensive-Coffee

This is Part 1 in a series about Boquete, Panama and Agri-tourism. Click the "All About Coffee" link in categories to read part 2; or click the link below.

http://boquetesafaritours.typepad.com/boquete_mountain_safari_t/all-about-coffee/

Coffee Roasting in Boquete, Panama

Boquete is known for its coffee; and the best way to experience all the fabulous flavors, and nuances, is to take a coffee tour while visiting. To experience just one coffee, however, will not do justice to the myriad of flavors. Boquete Safari http://www.boquetemountainsafaritours.com/coffeetours.html has designed a coffee tour with the connoisseur in mind. They visit 3 different estates so you can taste, and buy right at the estate, from different micro-climates. The Micro climates are one of the reasons that coffee is so good in Panama. High in the mountains, growing in volcanic soil, the coffee growth and textures change from one side of the valley to the other. http://www.panamaspecialtycoffee.com/ 

If you want to really learn the entire coffee process, incuding how to roast, Dos Jefes offers a "Roasting Tour". http://www.boqueteguide.com/?p=3967 

Boquete, Panama: An emerging market in Agricultural Tourism (Part 2)

Most visitors to Napa Valley, for wine tastings, or Kona in Hawaii, for coffee tastings, probably don’t view themselves as Agri-Tourists. They are either enjoying the beautiful scenery as they drive to different estates; or they are on a mission to find the best wine or coffee, that no one else can find. Napa Valley, in California, is one of the most successful examples of Agri-tourism. Napa has gone as far as declaring itself an “agricultural preserve”. The economy in Hawaii was actually built around agriculture and tourism; sugar cane and pineapple. However, with some brilliant marketing, and award winning coffee, Kona Coffee, as a symbol of Hawaii, has replaced the pineapple. (To understand the Kona/Panama connection, and the “marketing” issue; read this blog article: http://boquetesafaritours.typepad.com/boquete_mountain_safari_t/2008/08/kona-coffee-scandal-know-the-origin.html

The blending of agriculture and tourism is beneficial for the health of agricultural land; and provides a more enriching experience for the tourist. Hawaii has embraced the Ag Tourism experience. When you type “Kona coffee tours” in your search engine, the selection, scope, and variety of tours is mammoth. The total value of agritourism in the state of Hawaii [in 2000] was pegged at $26 million. Approximately 1,350,401 visitors toured the Kona side of the Big Island in 2007. (How many of them are experiencing the coffee tours is a statistic I cannot find.) The State of Hawaii has realized the benefit of Agitourism to its economy. They are considering legislation to encourage tourism on agriculturally zoned land. Activities on ag land, to supplement income, can range from conducting tours, selling products produced from the land, or operating a B & B. By selling the roasted coffee at the estate, 100% of the added value of the roasted product can stay in Hawaii.

 Coffee production in Panama generates approximately $32 million dollars in revenue, and creates about 8,750 jobs. The Chiriqui Province alone is growing coffee on 10,000 hectares (there are about 2.5 acres per hectares; so that means about 25,000 acres), with elevations starting at about 4,000 feet. The total Kona coffee area is about 2,290 acres, with elevations between 500 and 3,000 feet. So what do all these numbers mean? That Boquete’s coffee growing area, due to its greater size, and higher elevation, can provide a more diverse experience for the agritourist. Boquete’s rich volcanic valley has many different micro-climates that allow for the production of coffee with an array of flavorful and aromatic differences. Although Boquete coffee has won countless awards world wide, surpassing Kona coffee accolades, the marketing of Boquete Coffee Tours has not reached the world market, as Kona has. Tourists travel to Kona just for the coffee; or Napa just for the wine. If Boquete Coffee, as an agritourist destination, could capture some of the 1.3m guests who visit Kona each year, the Boquete farmer would not be selling his coffee green for $1.00 or $2.50 a pound ( http://forest.mtu.edu/pcforestry/people/2005/Daniels.pdf. ) Single Estate specialty coffee from Panama sells in the United States, on line, for $7.00 to $12.00 a pound. This added value, by roasting and packaging in the area it is grown, could remain in Panama to enrich the local farmers, instead of the international market. http://www.coffeefrompanama.com/Gourmet_Estate_Coffee_s/1.htm

Please don’t misunderstand me, the numerous internet coffee houses selling Panama coffee has enhanced the awareness of the brand “Panama Coffee”. However, many of the small farmers don’t have the money to promote their ‘brand’ like Ruiz, Kotowa, or Hacienda la Esmerlada http://www.haciendaesmeralda.com/ .  So they are forced to roll their crop in to a larger companies exports, and not realize the added revenue they could be receiving.

Several years ago, on my first visit to Panama, I stayed at Finca Lerida. Since it is high in the mountains, the evenings were spent chatting with John Collins (the owner of Finca Lerida) about coffee. Since he is a born talker, and has an incessant passion for coffee, I learned a lot. And one of the first things I learned was that Boquete could and should be like Kona and Napa. The coffee is here; the quality is here; the passion for coffee is here; we just don’t have the marketing dollars. With the new administration, and some of the Boquete locals pushing to get Panama City politicians to remember Boquete, when deciding on where to put those marketing dollars; there is hope that they will look past the Canal and the Free Trade Zone, and see the potential market and dollars in the Boquete Valley.

My company, Boquete Mountain Safari, has always known of the possibility of this emerging agritourist market; so we have started the first, Kona/Napa type of coffee tour in Boquete. Now we just need the international market to take a look.

http://www.boquetemountainsafaritours.com/coffeetours.html

The picture above is Tito from Finca la Milagrosa; learning to make coffee, on one of our coffee tours. You get to meet and talk with the owner of the coffee estate.

From Review: A must do when in Boquete on Feb 2009, (Jklam)

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g298424-d1070367-Reviews-Boquete_Mountain_Safari_Tours-Boquete.html#REVIEWS

To read part 1; click "All About Coffee" in the Categories section.

About Us • Boquete Mountain Safari Tours

On Saturday I had the opportunity to take one of Boquete's distinguished resident's, and an avid blog writer, on our Grande Coffee Adventure. I feel very passionate about supporting the local coffee farmers, so I have been taking writers on the tour with the hope of getting more exposure. I was very delighted to find that Lee had written a nice piece on his blog, BoqueteGuide about the tour, and about Boquete Safari. I would just like to add my thanks to the coffee estates that participated in educating the group about the coffee process. Although we go to different estates, at different times, these are the three coffee farms who allowed us entry on the day before Easter, when many estates were closed for the holiday.

Finca Dos Jefes:

The farm, Finca Dos Jefes, is located at 1400 meters in the El Salto region of Boquete. The 8000 plus coffee tress are comprised of caturra, catuhai,  criollo and geisha.  Organic certification was received in 2004.  

Cafes de la Luna are farmed in alliance with the forces of the moon.  During the waxing moon, when the force pulls upwards, they attend to the earth by selectively weeding and supplying the soil with organic nutrients.  During the waning moon, when the earth inhales, they nurture the trees with careful pruning to foment growth during the next cycle of the increasing moon.  They believe their return to this early farming practice produces the healthiest trees and the highest quality coffee under the moon.  

Growing coffee was far from the minds of Richard Lipner and Dee Harris when they purchased seven acres and retired to the highlands of Boquete, Panama.  They began the process of reclaiming the neglected farm.  Abhored by the living conditions of many Ngobe Bugle workers, Rich and Dee led by example and improved housing and increased wages and working conditions for all their employees.  A meal is provided during the harvest and care is taken to insure the health of all workers.

Over time more and more beans were dried in the “natural” method on Africa drying beds built on the farm combining Ngobe and Ethiopian tradition.   As the demand for gourmet coffee increases, confident in the quality of their beans, Rich and Dee look forward to sharing the fruits of their labor with coffee lovers who appreciate the difference.

Rich also runs a special coffee roasting class. For more details you can read about it on Lee's Blog: http://www.boqueteguide.com/?tag=boquete-coffee

Finca Lerida Coffee Farm and Eco-Lodge

Established by Tollef B. Mönniche in 1922, purchased by Alfred Collins in 1957, and developed and currently operated by members of the Collins family, Finca Lerida is one of Boquete’s oldest and most traditional Coffee Estates.

Located in the Highlands of Boquete, at an altitude of 5,500 feet, on the foothills of the Baru Volcano, with its deep rich volcanic soil, this beautiful and traditional coffee estate offers optimum conditions for growing premium mountain coffee. The ample rainfall and sunny, dry harvesting season promotes ideal production of this Arabica coffee.

During the months of December to May, Lerida’s harvesting season, only the ripe cherries are selected and picked daily. The coffee then undergoes a meticulous wet process in Finca Lerida’s original and unique processing plant designed and constructed by Mr. Monniche himself. In keeping with his tradition, after the wet process the beans are sun dried, stored and aged in wooden silos, until the coffee is ready to be used.

Finca Lerida’s Coffee has been exported to Europe, North America and Japan. In fact, in 1929, the estate produced 930 quintals of coffee. Most of this crop was the first export of Panama coffee to Germany and it sold for three times the then current price for Boquete coffee.

Lerida’s many times award winning coffee was ranked #1 amongst 119 coffees from 15 countries at the Cupping Pavilion during the Boston SCAA’s (Specialty Coffee Association of America) annual meeting.

Finca la Milagrosa

Finca la Milagrosa is located in North Western Panama, near to the Mountain Range and the Volcano Baru; the district of Boquete Province of Chiriquí.

Boquete is known because its tourist attractions  and the production of the high land coffees. Our plantation is approximately 4,974 feet above the level of the sea.

The varietals on Cafetales Don Alfredo are all from Arabic species;  we have Typica, Geisha, Catuay, Pache and Mundo Novo.

We follow the traditional process that our father taught us. Our process is an artisan process, from the plantation, to harvest the fruit, the humidity process, the dry process with sun and also the storage process help with the result of the quality product that we are offering you.

To read the complete article article about Boquete Mountain Safari on Lee's Blog:

http://www.boqueteguide.com/?tag=boquete-mountain-safari-tours

 

Coffee Chronicles from the Bajareque Times

Varietals:  MORE TO COFFEE THAN….LIGHT , MEDIUM AND DARK

Written by: Kristina Lea /Native Coffee Roasters-Panama

Every coffee tree is different and, although many of the coffee trees you see throughout the western highlands of Panama may look similar to each other, they differ in origin, growth habits and bean flavors.  They exist in clusters of biotypes that, it has been recently discovered, effect the taste potential when processed separately rather than the traditional field blends.

For example, the Geisha varietal, one of the world`s premier specialty coffees, was discovered in Jaramillo, Boquete by a combination of serendipity and inductive thinking of farmers’ experimentations.   Coffee arabica and Coffee canephora/Robusta are the main species of coffee for consumption.  Arabica has a higher quality and taste, can be grown at higher elevations and it has many varietals which have arisen by mutations or farmers’ selections.

 Robustas are mass-produced, high-yielding, resistant to pest and diseases, but are of a lower quality.

Within the Arabica species, there are many sub-groups.  In the past, the types of Arabica’s individual tastes were overlooked or not used in the description of the coffee. Now, with the specialty coffees, new wave, single varietals are processed separately; thus, enabling coffee lovers to distinguish the nuances of each varietal’s taste.

Panama western province is rich and abundant in coffee heirloom varieties due to the history and culture of our farmers.   Because of the volcanic landscape and soil, one can see a ‘cocktail’ of varietals which make Panamanian coffee unique. 

For the complete article on Coffee in Boquete, Panama you can go to:

http://www.boquete-bajareque-times.com/index.php?id=48

Kristina, from Native Coffee Panama, is the roaster for many of the the small, estate coffees in Boquete, Panama. You can buy the coffee she roasts at the following locations;

El Arte de Café y Crepes • El Cacique

Palo Alto Valle Restaurant

Deli Baru • Del Rio Hotel

Hostel Boquete

Rey Supermarket (coming soon

Or Call her at: 6590-5302

Panama Coffee Season Has Begun

This is a great time to visit Boquete, Panama. The rains have slowed down to just the Bajareque mist, the sun is out, and it is time to start picking the coffee. There is so much more to coffee than just a 'super, double, latte '  from Starbucks. In Panama it is a way of life. With the start of the season the coffee estates are all bustling with activity; and wondering who will have what it takes to be "the best coffee in the world".

There has been a lot of focus on Panama Coffee since the Peterson's were first awarded $130 a pound green (at auction) several years ago for their Geisha Coffee Bean.

Coffee has often been compared to wine, as the process to get a good cup of coffee depends on several factors: the variety of plant, the micro-climate in which it grows; the quality of the bean selected, the dry, aging, and roasting process. More complex than most people realize. The best coffee from Panama has often been exported, thereby, giving the highest profits to the wholesaler in another country. There are some here in Boquete that would like to see the hard work of the local estate owner pay off. Boquete Safari and Panama Native Coffee have started a Specialty Coffee Tasting Tour, similar to the Napa Valley Wine Tours. This tour will take you to several different, small estates to learn about the coffee process, taste different coffee's from different regions, and BUY Panama coffee at the source, thereby helping the local farmers realize greater profits.

Some of the estates involved in this endeavor are: The Lamastus Family (placed 3rd in 2007), Finca Lerida (processed the 2008 winner), Dos Jefes, and Finca la Milagrosa. There are other coffee tours in Boquete, highlighting one estate only, and usually an already large corporate Estate. If you are traveling to Panama this season, do not miss the opportunity to see and taste something truly original.

Panama and Coffee from Roast Magazine • Why Panama Coffee?

 

NAVIGATING ORIGINS PANAMA

by Danny Blank

What makes this mountainous area so unique is that its many valleys create unique micro-climates, with six or seven in less than six-square miles. The rain pattern in Boquete comes in from the Pacific side between May and December and from the Atlantic coast between December and March. The winds blowing over the mountains from the north, create a fine mist called bajareque that acts as a huge air conditioner slowing the ripening of coffee cherries. This allows for the characteristic flavor profile; a balanced coffee with medium to high acidity, low to medium body containing flavor attributes of vanilla, maple, cocoa, citrus, caramel, white chocolate and some wine tendencies.

Many producers are third and fourth generation whose families have maintained their land over decades. This developed “coffee culture” is a driving force that keeps farmers working together developing strategies about new and emerging markets. The Specialty Coffee Association of Panama (SCAP), first originated in 1997, has worked in a spirit of cooperation for the benefit of all coffee producers helping educate and communicate new ideas and methods to improve the quality of their product.

Panama's total coffee output for 2007 was approximately 250,000 quintales (one quintal equals 46 Kg), about half of which is exported to the U.S., Europe and Japan. This is not an extraordinary amount of production when compared to Costa Rica, which produces almost ten times that of Panama. This year’s production is about average, but during the 1990s the country experienced poor growing conditions due to the climatic changes attributed to La Niña. As result, output dropped and prices suffered as growers experienced a crisis that nearly wiped out many farms. Thus, some of the farmers closed long-term, five-year contracts based on fixed prices. This type of contract is a double-edged sword for farmers because as prices began to rise in 2003 and 2004, they were locked in to prices lower than the market.

To read the complete article in Roast Magazine: http://roastmagazine.com/backissues/marchapril2008/navorigin_panama.html

To schedule a visit to some of the award winning estates: http://www.boquetemountainsafaritours.com/coffeetours.html

 

Coffee Picking in Boquete, Panama 1914

  This picture was taken from a 1914 book written by Willis J. Abbot on "Panama and the Canal". Picking ladders, such as the one shown, are still in use today to harvest the coffee cherries.

Panama coffee has become one of the hottest products being exported from this country. When and how this happened? You can read more on the explosive rise of Panama in the coffee world from the following link: http://scaa.org/news.asp?article_id=107696065

And for 2008 the winners were.......

 

Results of the Roasters Guild Coffee of the Year Competition 2008:

In this prestigious event, experienced SCAA judges presented C.I. Racafe & CIA S.C.A. of Colombia with the Gold Award for producing the world’s best specialty coffee in 2008. Judges cupped or thoroughly evaluated six distinct attributes of the competitors’ coffee samples, including fragrance, aroma, taste, flavor, aftertaste and body. The Silver Award went to Panama’s Hacienda La Esmerelda, which had won the previous three competitions. Volcafe Specialty Coffee of Ethiopia won the Bronze Award.

 

Most of Panama's best coffee is exported. Boquete Safari and Native Coffee Panama are trying to keep more of the best in the country, by roasting and selling locally. This will help the small estate owners realize more profit per pound. In so doing, wages and health care can be expanded for the Indians who pick the coffee. To support this effort Boquete Safari has started the only coffee tasting tour that is promoting many of the award winning small estates. Tour several different estates, learn about the micro-climates and why that is important, and buy coffee at the source in Panama.

http://www.boquetemountainsafaritours.com/coffeetours.html

Specialty Gourmet Coffee • Compared to Wine

by: Gary Gresham

Specialty gourmet coffee is a very hot commodity in today's market. The consumption of gourmet coffee has steadily grown with consumers enjoying the more sophisticated tastes of gourmet coffee beans.

Specialty gourmet coffee, sometimes called premium coffee, is exceptional coffee beans grown only in ideal coffee-producing climates. These coffee beans have unique characteristics because of the soil they grow in which produce very distinctive flavors.

Gourmet coffee has a more balanced flavor and richer taste than the standard mass-produced coffee. Gourmet coffee beans go through a rigorous process of certification that is stricter to help keep the quality high.

In the 1974 issue of the "Tea & Coffee Trade Journal", Erna Knutsen first used the term 'specialty coffee' to describe these unique coffee beans that are produced in special microclimates with these distinctive, exceptional flavors.

In 1982 the Specialty Coffee Association of America was created by coffee professionals to help set quality standards for the specialty coffee trade.

Since the 1990's the growing popularity of the coffee houses and specialty gourmet coffee retailers, have made gourmet coffee one of the fastest growing food services markets in the world. In the United States alone, it nets approximately $8.5 billion a year.

Some have compared specialty gourmet coffee to wine. The aromas and flavors have similarities in how the consumer connects with the two beverages. The characteristics of gourmet coffee however, are more even complex than wine. The coffee bean is more dependent on altitudes, climate and soil variation than with the grapes used for wine.

The history and tradition of the specialty coffee grower makes this a very complex beverage. To taste and experience Panama Specialty coffee at its best, try one of the Coffee Adventures from Boquete Mountain Safari. 

http://www.boquetemountainsafaritours.com/coffeetours.html

Kona Coffee Scandal: Know the origin

From: Tea & Coffee Trade Journal | Date: January 1, 1997

Over 10 years ago, before Panama coffee became recognized as a superior cup, second to no other, it was being sold through Kona Kai, as Kona coffee. The scheme had been going on for almost a decade before the fraud was discovered.The specialty coffee industry is built on the uniqueness of its products and on the consumer's confidence in the superiority of those products. Without origin differences and special qualities inherent in different coffees - and equally, the consumer's knowledge of those properties - it's just coffee.

What is it that makes Kona unique? What is it that makes Guatemala Antigua or Panama Geisha unique? These things need to be made clear to the consumer and they need to be accurate. Written and verbal descriptions should match the cup profile. To perpetuate myths and inaccuracies does nothing for the specialty business. The marketing of memories and romantic notions, as is often done with Kona, may sell more Kona in the short-term, but it develops no loyalty with the coffee in the long-term.

Kona does not rank high with many cuppers. They say it does not have the qualities they look for, such as complexity, acidity, and focus of flavor. As a result, many roasters don't cup Kona as carefully as other coffees, if they cup it at all. Many report rarely cupping it, saying it doesn't matter. They are carrying it, they contend, only as a service to those customers who demand it. Any Kona or Kona blend, they add, seems to satisfy this demand.

The coffee that was being sold as Kona, was from Panama and Costa Rica. A blend of better Konas with another well-grown, well-processed, high-grade bean such as a Panamanian coffee will satisfy consumer demand better than many 100% Konas, depending on the quality of the coffees involved.

To read the complete article on the Kona Scandal click this link:

http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/fullarticle/1G1-19213608.html

To understand the complexities in coffee, so you know you are getting what you are paying for, be educated by an expert. Many coffee tasting tours are available when you come to Boquete, Panama. One of the best is with Boquete Mountain Safari and Native Coffee Panama Roasters. They visit several different estates and will educate you on how to distinguish the body and aroma of a cup of coffee; so when you are paying $15.00 for a cup of coffee from Stumptown Coffee Roasters in the U.S.,you will now it is from Panama.

Drink to your health--decaf or not

By Drs. Kay Judge and Maxine Barish-Wreden (McClathy News Service)

A study just published in the Annals of Internal Medicine suggests that those people who regularly indulge in their favorite coffee beverage may live longer than those who don't.

The authors of this study reviewed data from two large ongoing studies that have followed health professionals over more than twenty years, including their dietary habits — the Nurses' Health Study, and, the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study. What they found was that people who drank at least five to seven cups of coffee per week had a significantly lower overall risk of dying from any cause compared to those who did not drink coffee; people who drank four to five cups per day or more seemed to have the strongest protection.

To read the entire article click on the link : http://www.timesargus.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080629/FEATURES07/806290326/1016/FEATURES07