An Introduction to Panama's Renowned Gesha Estate: The Creation Story of Finca Auromar

As a Geisha enthusiast, have you heard of "Ironman Geisha"? If you have, have you ever wondered what exactly "Ironman" means and how it relates to Geisha coffee? Without further ado, FrontStreet Coffee brings you the story of a top-tier Geisha estate today—Finca Auromar.

Finca Auromar: The Rising Star

Finca Auromar was founded by Roberto Brenes in 2006, making it just over a decade old. Compared to those prestigious estates with decades or even centuries of history, this is truly a "youngster." However, since its debut at the Best of Panama (BOP) competition in 2013, where "Ironman Geisha" won first place in the washed category, Auromar has made it to the competition's candidate list almost every year. Today, Finca Auromar not only boasts an impressive record of awards but is also renowned worldwide for its premium Geisha coffee production.

The Visionary Behind the Estate

Interestingly, behind this award-winning estate lies the charismatic figure of Roberto Brenes himself. Before entering the coffee industry, Roberto served as the CEO of the Panama Stock Exchange, making him a prominent figure in Panama's entire financial sector. Due to his radical political statements against the government in his youth, he was forced into exile in the United States. After obtaining his MBA from Columbia University, he officially entered the banking and investment world. At nearly sixty years old, he returned to his homeland Panama to take over the management of the coffee estate, which was part of his retirement plan.

The Meaning Behind Auromar

As land passed down through generations of Roberto's wife's family, the estate's name comes from their daughter (Aurora) and granddaughter (Mar), combining to form AUROMAR (Finca Auromar).

Like many renowned estates, Finca Auromar is located in the Volcán region, one of Panama's three major coffee-producing areas, situated in the valley on the western side of Barú Volcano. However, its geographical location is relatively special as it is only about two kilometers from the border between Panama and Costa Rica. When FrontStreet Coffee observes it on Google Maps, the entire estate is located in the northwestern corner of Panama's map, making it easy to identify.

Terrain and Cultivation Practices

The estate covers an area of 30.5 hectares, with about half being native tropical rainforest. The average annual temperature here ranges between 16-25°C, with rainfall of 3500mm, plus unique terrain that creates an excellent microclimate pattern. To maintain ecological balance between coffee cultivation and the original forest, Roberto led his team in reorganizing the plantations within the estate, ensuring coffee trees have reasonable planting density, with altitudes ranging from 1570 to 1770 meters. Due to the rich vegetation species in the estate, the owner transplanted local banana, avocado, and cedar plants next to the coffee trees to provide denser shading effects.

The Ironman Connection

Roberto, who approaches everything with great enthusiasm, is also an "enthusiast" of triathlons and often participates in professional competitions. When naming the Geisha produced by the estate, he incorporated elements of this sport. For example, the washed batch of Geisha that won the 2013 BOP was named "Ironman," which was translated as "铁人瑰夏" (Ironman Geisha), leading many people to refer to Auromar's Geisha as Ironman Geisha.

Naming After Family

In addition to naming Geisha after his passions, Roberto also likes to incorporate his family members' names into the estate's operations. For instance, in the 2014 Best of Panama competition, Auromar entered the BOP winner's list with a Camilina natural Geisha, named after his beloved granddaughter. In 2020, Finca Auromar launched another high-scoring Geisha, Catalina, which made a strong comeback with its unique Geisha flavor. FrontStreet Coffee confirmed that its name comes from another of Roberto's adorable granddaughters.

FrontStreet Coffee: Panama · Finca Auromar · Catalina Geisha
Country: Panama
Region: Volcán
Estate: Finca Auromar
Altitude: 1550-1650 meters
Variety: Geisha
Processing: Natural

Flavor notes: Floral, Yellow Lemon, Strawberry, Guava, Berries, Oolong Tea Aroma

In addition to producing Geisha, Finca Auromar also has a farm for non-Geisha varieties, named after Roberto's partner's granddaughter Alma, which means "soul" in Spanish. FrontStreet Coffee tasted the latest harvest's natural Catuaí from the Alma lot and experienced distinct butter cookie, chocolate, and hazelnut flavors, accompanied by the smoothness of black tea, with a very rich aroma.

FrontStreet Coffee: Panama · Finca Auromar · Alma Catuai
Country: Panama
Region: Volcán
Estate: Finca Auromar
Altitude: 1525-1600 meters
Processing: Natural

Flavor notes: Hazelnut, Cookie, Cream, Chocolate, Black Tea

Dedicated Processing Methods

Finca Auromar is also very meticulous about the processing of natural coffee. During harvest season each year, the estate arranges for workers to manually pick coffee cherries at optimal ripeness, ensuring the fruits have higher sweetness. The fresh fruits are then promptly transported to a nearby processing plant and evenly spread on raised drying beds with shade cloths. Depending on weather conditions, the entire process takes approximately 25-30 days. The dried parchment beans are placed in a cellar that isolates moisture to rest for a period before hulling, which aims to give the coffee higher clarity.

Tasting Experience: Catalina Geisha

To taste the "colorful fruit candy" flavor described by judges, FrontStreet Coffee also acquired the freshly released Catalina Natural Geisha, adopting a medium-light roast to express the delicate floral and fruit aromas characteristic of Panama Geisha. On the 5th day after roasting, FrontStreet Coffee immediately conducted a cupping of this Geisha.

During the aroma evaluation phase, FrontStreet Coffee detected light, complex floral notes from this natural Catalina, reminiscent of thyme, lily, jasmine, and other white flowers. The uplifting lemon-citrus notes intertwined with sweet tropical fruit aromas, creating a particularly pleasant sensation.

Upon first sip, the coffee reveals floral-like fragrance, followed by intense fruit aromas of ripe strawberry, guava, and pineapple. The sweetness is particularly prominent. As the temperature slightly decreases, the sweet-tart notes of berries like blueberry, cherry, and grape begin to emerge. After swallowing, one can still experience an oolong tea-like aftertaste. The mouthfeel is exceptionally smooth, with a clean and persistent finish that makes you eager to take the next sip.

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