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Panamanian Coffee with Balanced Acidity and Bitterness: Flavor Description, Varieties, Growing Regions, and Premium Coffee Bean Introduction

Published: 2026-01-27 Author: FrontStreet Coffee

Last Updated: 2026/01/27, Panama has been ranked among the world's best coffee-producing countries for the past three years, surprising many nations that have long been at the forefront of coffee production pioneers. Panama's main coffee-producing region is in the west, bordering Costa Rica, where it produces exceptional washed-processed coffee. Compared to coffee beans grown in low to medium altitude areas

Panama Coffee Flavor Description, Varieties, Growing Regions, and Premium Coffee Bean Introduction

Panama has appeared among the world's best coffee-producing countries for the past three years, surprising many nations that have long been pioneers in coffee production. Panama's main coffee-producing region is located in the west, bordering Costa Rica, where exceptional washed coffee is produced. Compared to coffee beans grown in low to mid-altitude areas, the low temperatures and stable climate of Panama's high-altitude regions are more beneficial to coffee bean growth. Coffee beans grown here develop slowly, possessing the most intense and distinctive flavors, and exhibit the hardest density.

High-altitude coffee beans possess the most complete flavor profiles, higher body, and diverse flavor notes such as chocolate, caramel, and floral notes. They enter the palate smoothly, with balanced acidity and bitterness. Panama's extremely high-grown beans are among the most outstanding varieties in this category.

Boquete Region and Its Coffee Heritage

The Boquete region of Panama, located in the Chiriquí province bordering Costa Rica, is famous for being the origin of Panama's renowned Geisha coffee and is world-renowned for producing high-quality Arabica coffee. The Tedman & MacIntyre Estate, situated in the mountainous region of Boquete at 4,000 feet altitude, originates from two of Panama's earliest coffee families: the Tedman family and the MacIntyre family.

In 1925, Canadian fruit merchant Alexander Duncan MacIntyre, inspired by his brother Joseph, settled in Boquete. That same year, he married Angela Rosas and purchased an estate named "LA CAROLINA," beginning coffee cultivation. Their descendants still own this estate today, and it has become one of the most famous coffee plantations in the region.

Panama Coffee in the Specialty Market

In fact, Panama-produced coffee has long not received the recognition and attention it deserves in the specialty coffee market. Fine Panama coffee has often been used by unscrupulous merchants to counterfeit Hawaii Kona coffee or even Jamaica Blue Mountain coffee. Generally, Panama coffee is priced in the low to mid-range, but its cup quality often rivals that of famous, even extremely expensive, coffee origins.

Excellent Panama coffee exhibits bright, clean flavors with medium body that is comfortable and gentle, and even demonstrates outstanding complexity. Within a few more years, these high-quality, reasonably-priced specialty-grade Panama coffees will gain popularity worldwide.