The Origin of Panama Butterfly Coffee and Panama Coffee Bean Grade Classification

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Butterfly Coffee: A Hidden Gem from Boquete

In the Boquete region, there is an exceptionally valuable coffee bean with a beautiful name — Butterfly. Composed of three varieties — Geisha, Caturra, and Catuai — it possesses 40% superior Geisha heritage. Cultivated in the Baru Volcano area of Boquete at an altitude of 1,600 meters, the processing plant employs meticulous washed processing. Panama's unique microclimate brings abundant rainfall and significant temperature differences between day and night. Combined with the region's distinctive volcanic soil and careful harvesting and processing, this coffee excels in body, acidity, and floral notes.

Exceptional Value and Heritage

What's even more surprising is that, building on its excellent quality, its very approachable price makes this coffee bean's value exceptional. The special characteristic of this coffee bean lies in its composition of three varieties, including 40% Geisha, which gives this coffee distinct Geisha flavors. According to research, due to the estate's historical reasons, when pursuing yield in the early days, Geisha varieties were mixed and planted together with Caturra and Catuai coffee trees. For easier harvesting, coffee farmers didn't reclassify them but processed all three varieties together. Later, after Geisha became famous and prices soared, the processing plant began refined washed processing for such coffee beans.

Washed Processing Method

There are many washed processing methods today, but generally, after coffee cherries are harvested, floating beans are removed, then pulp is removed, and coffee beans are soaked in fermentation tanks. Enzymes in the water soften the mucilage attached to the coffee bean's parchment, while natural yeast breaks down sugars in the mucilage — this process is called fermentation. After fermentation completes, coffee beans are moved to drying patios to dry. During drying, beans need constant turning to ensure even drying. Finally, they are stored with parchment in warehouses until green bean merchants place orders, then dehulling and bagging occur. Coffee processed this way has a clean taste, emphasizing bright, lively fruit acidity and clear fruit flavors and floral notes.

Flavor Profile and Experience

Therefore, one can imagine that with Butterfly's varietal superiority combined with refined processing methods, if completed with medium-light roasting, you will surely greatly appreciate this coffee with its characteristic Geisha floral notes, Southeast Asian fruits, berry flavors, honey sweetness, and smoothness. The aroma and finish of Butterfly are exceptionally long-lasting.

Cupping Notes

Fragrance (Dry Aroma): Jasmine flower, citrus, tea aroma, honey

Aroma (Wet Aroma): Berries, floral notes, buttery aroma, vanilla, citrus

Flavor (Slurping): Juicy sweetness, delicate and non-irritating acidity, excellent cleanliness, bergamot, honey, citrus, spices, floral notes, berries, tea aroma, cherry, refined finish, lasting aroma, classic Esmeralda Estate Geisha flavor.

Mouthfeel Description: Jasmine floral notes, citrus, tea aroma, honey, berries, vanilla, bright acidity! Butterfly containing Geisha varieties is an exceptionally high-value specialty coffee bean!

Manufacturer: Coffee Workshop
Address: No. 10 Bao'an Front Street, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou, FrontStreet Coffee
Contact: 020-38364473
Shelf Life: 90 days
Net Weight: 227g
Packaging: Bulk coffee beans
Roast Level: Roasted coffee beans
Brand: Coffee Workshop
Series: FrontStreet Coffee Roasting
Sugar Content: Sugar-free
Origin: Panama
Roast Degree: Medium roast

Brewing Instructions

Hand-poured Butterfly: 15g powder, medium grind (Fuji ghost tooth blade #4), V60 dripper, 88-89°C water temperature. First pour 30g water, 27-second bloom, pour to 105g then pause. When the powder bed drains to half, continue pouring slowly until 225g. Avoid the tail section. Water-to-coffee ratio 1:15, extraction time 2:00.

Origin and Terroir

Panama's Boquete region, located in the Chiriqui province bordering Costa Rica, is famous for producing Panama's renowned Geisha coffee and is world-renowned for high-quality Arabica coffee production. The Tedman & MacIntyre Estate, located in the 4,000-foot mountainous area of Boquete, originates from two of Panama's earliest coffee families — the Tedman family and the MacIntyre family.

Country: Panama
Grade: SHB
Region: Boquete
Roast Level: Medium roast
Processing Method: Washed
Varieties: Caturra, Catuai, Geisha

Panama coffee is famous for Esmeralda Estate's Geisha, and the region where Esmeralda Estate is located is also quite famous — it's the Boquete region in Chiriqui province. Boquete is a town in Chiriqui province, situated near the Panama-Costa Rica border, close to the famous Baru Volcano. With beautiful scenery, fertile, rich soil, and climate and soil perfect for producing quality coffee.

Within the Boquete region are distributed many excellent estates. Besides the famous Esmeralda Estate, there are also Elida Estate, Akaba Estate, and other renowned estates, all producing high-quality specialty coffee. This is not only due to Panama Boquete's superior ecological conditions and Baru Volcano's fertile volcanic ash soil but also an important factor: the microclimate in Panama's Boquete highlands is a unique resource for Boquete's specialty coffee. Panama's east-to-west environment causes cold air currents to gather above 6,500 feet through the central mountains, creating multiple microclimates in the Boquete area. The temperature and rainfall are very suitable for plant growth, so coffee trees planted here grow exceptionally well.

And in Boquete's such advantageous growing environment, there naturally won't only be Esmeralda's Geisha — a coffee king with exceptional flavor, quality, and value. But drinking Geisha daily is still quite luxurious, and even without economic pressure, eating delicacies like shark fin and bear paw daily isn't appropriate either. The same goes for coffee — exploring broadly brings more enjoyment in appreciating coffee's pleasures.

Panama is a Central American country, bordering Costa Rica to the west and Colombia to the east. Those familiar with single-origin coffee should know that Panama coffee is famous in the coffee world for Esmeralda Estate's Geisha. It can be said to be a country that pursues coffee excellence and produces high-quality coffee.

Flavor: Tea aroma, honey, berries, classic Esmeralda Estate Geisha taste

Important Notice :

前街咖啡 FrontStreet Coffee has moved to new addredd:

FrontStreet Coffee Address: 315,Donghua East Road,GuangZhou

Tel:020 38364473