Coffee culture

Introduction to the Kotowa Family of Panama, Panama Coffee Introduction, Panama Coffee Flavor Description

Published: 2026-01-27 Author: FrontStreet Coffee
Last Updated: 2026/01/27, Professional coffee knowledge exchange. For more coffee bean information, please follow Coffee Workshop (WeChat official account: cafe_style). For a long time, Panama coffee was underestimated and even overlooked, until the annual international cupping competition Best of Panama and the emergence of Hacienda La Esmeralda completely changed this situation. This cupping competition

For professional coffee knowledge exchange and more coffee bean information, please follow Coffee Workshop (WeChat official account: cafe_style).

For a long time, I underestimated and even overlooked Panamanian coffee until the recent annual international cupping competition "Best of Panama" and the emergence of Hacienda La Esmeralda completely changed everything. This cupping competition has attracted global attention not only because of the coffee's inherent appeal but also due to its astonishing astronomical prices. Some Geisha varieties produced by small farms have captured the attention of coffee enthusiasts worldwide with their unique floral aromas. Panamanian coffee exhibits intense floral notes and clean fruit fragrances, with cupping quality that far surpasses other coffees, delivering stunning flavors and consistent quality.

Small farms in the Boquete region of Chiriqui province truly produce distinctive coffee cherries. During each harvest season, farms hire local N'gbe Indians indigenous people, and they do so in accordance with Central American labor laws, employing them at the most reasonable wage standards.

The Kotowa Family Legacy

The Kotowa family owns five major estates and was the biggest winner at the 2012 Best of Panama competition. Their most famous estates, Duncan and Don K, together won five categories of excellence. These two estates are located on opposite sides of the volcanic ridge line, where microclimatic variations are significant, resulting in distinctly different coffee flavors. During harvest, only the finest 100% fully mature cherries are selected. The coffee is de-pulped in special wooden barrels according to different sizes and grades, a process that takes approximately three months.

FrontStreet Coffee's Brewing Recommendations:

Pour-over: V60 dripper, Fuji R440 grinder setting 3.5, water temperature around 90°C

French Press: Recommended grinder setting 4, water temperature 90°C

Siphon: Recommended grinder setting 4, water temperature 90°C-91°C

AeroPress: Recommended grinder setting 3.5, water temperature 90°C

Important Notice :

前街咖啡 FrontStreet Coffee has moved to new addredd:

FrontStreet Coffee Address: 315,Donghua East Road,GuangZhou

Tel:020 38364473

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