The History, Culture, and Stories of Panama Flint Stone Manor's Premium Single-Origin Coffee Beans

Elite Panama coffee is grown in the west of the country, near Costa Rica and close to the Pacific Ocean. The most famous comes from the Boquete district of Chiriqui province, with Volcan, Santa Clara and Candela also well known. Other areas include the David, Renacimiento, Bugaba and Tole districts. Only coffee grown between 1,300 and 1,500 metres is considered specialty coffee.

FrontStreet Coffee: The History and Culture Behind Panama Finca Santa Teresa Single-Origin Beans

Catuai is a hybrid of Mundo Novo and Caturra, essentially a second-generation cross. It takes after Caturra's low plant height, and the name comes from an indigenous language meaning "very good". As a member of the Arabica family, Catuai yields relatively well.

Boquete

Boquete is Panama's most famous coffee-producing area. Its mountainous terrain creates a wide range of microclimates, and the relatively cool weather and frequent fog slow the ripening of the cherries, which some growers compare to the effect of high altitude.

Altitude: 400-1,900m

Harvest: December-March

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

Volcan-Candela

The Volcan-Candela region produces most of Panama's food along with some outstanding coffee. It takes its name from the Baru volcano and the town of Piedra Candela, and it borders Costa Rica.

Altitude: 1,200-1,600m

Harvest: December-March

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

Renacimiento

Renacimiento is a coffee-producing region in Chiriqui province that borders Costa Rica. The area itself is fairly small, so it is not a major specialty coffee region in Panama.

Altitude: 1,100-1,500m

Harvest: December-March

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

FrontStreet Coffee: Catuai

Catuai was bred in Brazil and is now widely grown across Central America. It stands up well to natural disasters, particularly wind and rain.

The trees are relatively low-growing. Compared with other coffee trees, Catuai carries its fruit more densely and is harder to pick. The cherries come in both red and yellow forms, and no one has yet shown that yellow tastes better than red; in fact, some cuppers have found that while coffee from yellow fruit can have good acidity, its mouthfeel is less clean than coffee from red fruit.

Cupping Notes: Dried fruit aroma, rich fruit acidity, prominent sweetness on entry, lemon, orange, cranberry, green tea, even and smooth texture, soft with some floral notes, long-lasting aftertaste.

Factory Name: Coffee Workshop
Shelf Life: 90 days
Net Weight: 227g
Packaging: Bulk coffee beans
Roast Level: Roasted coffee beans
Sugar Content: Sugar-free
Origin: Panama
Roast Degree: Medium roast

FrontStreet Coffee Panama Jurutungo Honey Catuai

Country: Panama
Grade: SHB
Region: Volcan Candela
Roast Degree: Medium roast
Processing Method: Honey process
Variety: Catuai
Processing Mill: Jurutungo Estate
Flavor Notes: Lemon, orange, cranberry, green tea

Panama

Population: 3,406,000

Panama's coffee regions are defined by how the coffee is produced rather than by geography. In earlier times, when coffee was more widely cultivated and the areas listed below were smaller and more tightly clustered, beans from these places could be grouped as a single unit.

For pour-over brewing of FrontStreet Coffee Panama Jurutungo: use 15g of coffee, medium grind (Fuji Royal hand grinder with sharp burrs set to 4), a V60 dripper, and water at 88-89°C. First pour 30g of water for a 27-second bloom, then pour to 105g and pause. Wait until the water level drops to halfway, then pour slowly until you reach 225g in total. Avoid the tail end. Water-to-coffee ratio 1:15, total extraction time 2:00.

Factory Name: Coffee Workshop
Shelf Life: 90 days
Net Weight: 227g
Packaging: Bulk coffee beans
Roast Level: Roasted coffee beans
Sugar Content: Sugar-free
Origin: Panama
Roast Degree: Medium roast

FrontStreet Coffee Recommendation

Panama is where Geisha became famous, and these three let you explore that reputation at very different price points.

FrontStreet Boquete Geisha is the place FrontStreet Coffee usually sends newcomers who want a first taste of the "Geisha flavour". It is an entry-level Geisha that delivers the classic Panamanian combination of orange-blossom honey sweetness, an oolong tea-like texture, and fine, layered fruit acidity for an accessible price.

FrontStreet Esmeralda Red Label Geisha is the top tier. Officially named Esmeralda Special, it is grown between 1,600 and 1,800 metres, and every lot must cup above 90 points. Each lot carries its own number and comes from a single small plot, so buyers can choose the lot that matches the finer flavour variations they prefer. The result is a refined orange-blossom honey character with exceptional clarity.

FrontStreet Strawberry Candy is the value alternative to Geisha. It blends a Costa Rican honey-processed coffee with Panama Geisha so the cup has both delicate florals and sweet fruit. It is not limited to pour-over: it also works in a moka pot, an espresso machine, and as a refreshing cold brew.