Introduction to Flavor Profile and Characteristics of 2022 BOP Champion Guarumo Farm Natural Geisha Coffee Beans

Introduction to Guarumo Coffee Farm

Guarumo Coffee Farm, also known as Guarumo Coffee Estate, is located north of Hartmann Estate in the Santa Clara region of Chiriquí Province, Panama. It is a new estate acquired in 2013 by Ratibor Hartmann, the third-generation manager of the Hartmann family, covering only four hectares. The estate specializes in growing Geisha coffee varieties at an altitude above 1750m.

The Hartmann Family Legacy

The Hartmann family's story in Panama represents a remarkable history of European immigration. Alois Strasil Hartmann (the Hartmann family ancestor) was born in what was then the Austro-Hungarian Empire, now the Czech Republic. Due to political instability in his home country, he decided to start a new life abroad. Initially, Alois stayed in New York, USA, before eventually making his way to Panama. However, after several months, Alois discovered that he was not suited to urban life in Panama City.

Adventure ran in his blood, and shortly after quitting his job, he decided to settle along the mountain lines in the Volcán region, where he began working and making his home. There, he married his first wife, Susana Troetsch, and they had Hartmann Troetsch, who would later become the founder of Hartmann Estate. Then, starting in 1940, Hartmann Troetsch inherited his father's farmland, began land preparation work, and thus established the history of Hartmann Estate, which continues to this day.

Estate Development and Conservation

The first generation of the Hartmann family, Alois Strasil Hartmann, initially cultivated coffee in the Volcán region of Panama. Later, the second generation, Hartmann Troetsch, moved coffee cultivation to the Santa Clara region and formally established Hartmann Estate.

During the initial development, Hartmann Troetsch decided to preserve most of the original forest land within the estate. This concept of native forest protection has continued to influence the current third-generation manager, Ratibor Hartmann. Today, Hartmann Estate maintains this tradition, with coffee cultivation areas occupying only about 20% of the entire estate. Due to successful forest conservation, the estate hosts numerous native bird species, with the locally famous toucan naturally becoming the estate's standard logo.

Family Management and Recognition

In addition to their own estate, the Hartmann family also provides management services for nearby estates, such as Ninety Plus's estates in Panama and Finca La Mula, all of which are managed by the Hartmann family.

Although Guarumo is a new estate of the Hartmann family, it is not the first time it has won a BOP championship. In 2020, Guarumo Estate's natural Geisha captured the hearts of a group of judges with its captivating jasmine, rose, champagne, candy, and bergamot flavors.

Recent Achievements and Coffee Profile

As the estate had not engaged in extensive promotion, Guarumo Estate emerged like a dark horse that year, capturing everyone's attention. This year, Guarumo Estate's natural Geisha coffee beans once again demonstrated their excellence, winning the natural Geisha category championship at the 26th BOP competition.

The natural Geisha coffee beans from Guarumo Estate that FrontStreet Coffee acquired, while not from the competition batch, are also from the new 2022 harvest season. To preserve the captivating tropical fruit and floral notes of these natural Geisha coffee beans, FrontStreet Coffee employed a light roast.

Tasting Notes and Brewing Recommendations

Through cupping comparisons, these natural processed Geisha coffee beans from Guarumo Estate exhibit dry aromas of mango and strawberry after grinding. Upon sipping, they reveal notes of mango, pineapple, white floral notes, sugary fruit candy, and malted fermentation sweetness (somewhat reminiscent of beer). The overall complexity is remarkably rich.

Because these Guarumo natural Geisha coffee beans are grown in high-altitude regions, the coffee beans themselves have high density, and light roasting hasn't significantly altered this density. Therefore, they can be extracted using medium-fine grinding (78% pass-through rate with China #20 standard sieve) and higher water temperature for brewing.

FrontStreet Coffee Brewing Parameters

FrontStreet Coffee's pour-over recommendations: V60/conical filter, 15g coffee grounds, 1:15 coffee-to-water ratio, fine sugar consistency/medium-fine grinding (78% pass-through rate with China #20 standard sieve), water temperature of 90-91°C.

Using a three-stage circular pouring technique: First, use 30g of water to thoroughly moisten the coffee bed into a "hamburger" shape and let it bloom for 30 seconds. Then proceed with the second stage of brewing; FrontStreet Coffee used steady medium-fine water flow in circular motions to reach 125g, then paused. When the water level dropped to 2/3 of the coffee bed, the third stage was poured; the third stage continued with medium-fine water flow in circular motions to reach 225g and conclude the pouring. The total extraction time was 2'18".

Flavor Profile

FrontStreet Coffee's Guarumo Estate natural Geisha coffee flavor profile: The entry presents the aroma and sweet-tart balance of mango-pineapple complex juice, the mid-section reveals white floral notes and malted fermentation sweetness, while the aftertaste resembles fruit candy.