Introduction to Panama Finca Lerida Coffee Region - What is the Altitude of Finca Lerida Coffee Beans

Introduction to Panama Finca Lerida Coffee Growing Region

Catuai

"Catuai" is a hybrid of Mundo Novo and Caturra — a true second-generation cross. It inherits Caturra's low tree height, and the name comes from an indigenous word meaning "very good." As a member of the Arabica family, Catuai is relatively high-yielding.

Cupping notes: dried fruit aroma, rich fruit acidity, pronounced sweetness on entry, lemon, orange, cranberry, green tea, with a uniform and smooth texture — gentle, with a touch of florals and a long-lasting aftertaste.

Panama Jurutungo Honey Catuai

Country: Panama

Grade: SHB

Region: Finca Lerida growing region

Roast degree: Medium roast

Processing method: Honey process

Variety: Catuai

Processing mill: Finca Lerida

Flavor notes: Lemon, orange, cranberry, green tea

Panama

Population: 3,406,000

Panama's regional coffee definitions are based on how the coffee is produced rather than on strict geographical divisions. Back when coffee was more widely cultivated, the beans from the smaller, closely clustered areas listed below could be grouped together as a single unit.

BOQUETE

Boquete is Panama's most famous growing region. Its mountainous terrain creates many microclimates; the relatively cool weather and frequent fog slow the maturation of the coffee cherries, which some liken to high-altitude climate conditions.

Altitude: 400-1,900m

Harvest: December - March

Varieties: Typica, Caturra, Catuai, Bourbon, Geisha, San Ramon

VOLCAN-CANDELA

The Volcan-Candela region grows most of Panama's food along with some remarkable coffee. The region takes its name from Baru Volcano and the town of Piedra Candela, on the Costa Rican border.

Altitude: 1,200-1,600m

Harvest: December - March

Varieties: Typica, Caturra, Catuai, Bourbon, Geisha, San Ramon

RENACIMIENTO

Renacimiento is a growing region in Chiriqui province, bordering Costa Rica. The area itself is relatively small, so it isn't one of Panama's main specialty coffee regions.

Altitude: 1,100-1,500m

Harvest: December - March

Varieties: Typica, Caturra, Catuai, Bourbon, Geisha, San Ramon

Panama's Premium Coffee Growing Regions

Panama's premium coffee grows in the country's west, near Costa Rica and close to the Pacific. Coffee from the Boquete district of Chiriqui province is the most famous, with Volcan, Santa Clara, and Candela also well known. Other regions include the David, Renacimiento, Bugaba, and Tole districts. Only coffee grown between 1,300 and 1,500 meters qualifies as specialty coffee.

FrontStreet Coffee Recommendation

Boquete's mist-shrouded mountains, humid days and cool nights, and the fertile volcanic soil delivered by Baru Volcano are exactly what growing great coffee — Geisha above all — demands. And the higher the coffee grows, the slower the cherries mature, the more nutrients they accumulate, and the richer and more distinctive the flavors become. If you're tasting Panama specialty coffee for the first time, FrontStreet Coffee recommends our Boquete Geisha: an estate-level entry Geisha grown at 1600 meters, where rich volcanic ash soil feeds a fragrant cup of jasmine florals, green tea, honey, citrus, and orange.

For Geisha character at a gentler price, FrontStreet Coffee's Panama Washed Butterfly (Hua Hu Die) carries half Geisha's pedigree — a three-variety blend of Geisha, Caturra, and Catuai grown in the Baru Volcano area of Boquete. The region's ample rainfall, big day-night temperature swings, and volcanic rocky soils, combined with meticulous picking and processing, give it impressive body, bright citrus acidity, and Geisha's jasmine aroma — equally lovely poured over or cold brewed. And for the full Geisha experience, FrontStreet Coffee's Esmeralda Estate Red Label Geisha is the top grade: single-plot Geisha harvested above 1700 meters, cupping at 91 points or higher, with that signature refined orange-blossom sweetness.