from Alex

Boquete
Panama


Barista Jam: Panama!
Boquete is tucked in a scenic valley in western Panama.

Last stop: Panama. Boquete is a beautiful region in the western mountains of Panama. They don't produce a lot of coffee, relative to other Central American countries, but what they do produce is delicious.

Coincidentally, I arrived just in time for the first ever Barista Jam in Panama! Fellow Barista Guild members Brent Fortune of Crema cafe in Portland and Matt from the Albina Press cafe in Portland were in town to lead Panama's first barista training event. The goal is to prepare Panama for it's first National Barista Competition next year!
Matt (far left) and Brent (far right) intstruct Panamanian baristas on the art of espresso.

Matt and Brent did a great job teaching barista skills. I was happy to snap a few photos and help out!
Myself, Matt, and Brent at the barista jam.


Hacienda Esmerelda is perhaps the most famous coffee farm in the world. This year their prized "geisha" coffee sold for over $100 dollars a pound in the Best of Panama auction. No, that's not a typo!

It was great to get a quick tour of the famous farm. Unfortunately, the tour did not include tasting the coffee!

Hacienda La Esmerelda.

The coffee mill and drying patio at Hacienda La Esmerelda.
The Geisha is a unique varietal of coffee tree which originiated in Africa. In low alitudes (read: warm temperatures) it produces mediocre coffee. In higher altitudes, it produces spectacular coffee.
Indigenous Panamanians are are largely responsible for picking Panama's coffee beans.