Introduction to Growing Environment and Processing Methods of Elida Estate Coffee Beans in Panama

FrontStreet Coffee · An Introduction to the Growing Environment and Processing Methods of Panama Elida Estate Coffee Beans

Panama's Elida Estate is situated in the renowned specialty coffee producing region of Boquete. The estate covers a total area of 65 hectares, with more than half located within the Baru Volcano National Park. Only 30 hectares of the estate are dedicated to coffee cultivation, while the remainder remains pristine primary forest. The coffee is grown at altitudes ranging from 1,670 to 1,850 meters, making it one of Panama's highest altitude coffee estates (the other estate with similar elevation is Carmen Estate, located in the Volcán Valley).

In such high-altitude conditions, low temperatures delay the maturation of coffee cherries by approximately a full month compared to normal maturation periods. The fertile volcanic soil provides abundant nutrients for the coffee trees, and combined with the excellent microclimate created by the Baru Volcano, these factors enable Elida Estate to consistently achieve outstanding results in cupping competitions.

Elida Estate primarily cultivates three coffee varieties: Catuai, Typica, and Geisha. The processing plant is located mid-way on the mountainside, allowing coffee cherries to be transported immediately for processing after harvesting, ensuring the quality of the coffee fruit remains uncompromised. Of course, Elida's environment is also suitable for cultivating other high-quality temperate crops, especially tree tomatoes and some uncommon high-altitude fruits. Interestingly, these fruit flavors can often be detected in Elida's coffee as well.

The Legacy of Elida Estate

Elida Estate is the most renowned estate of the Lamastus family, established in 1918. From the time Robert Lamastus, the founder of the family's coffee estates, planted the first coffee tree, it has now passed through a century, witnessing the global popularization of specialty coffee.

Elida Estate is the most renowned estate of the Lamastus family, established in 1918. From the time Robert Lamastus, the founder of the family's coffee estates, planted the first coffee tree, it has now passed through a century, witnessing the global popularization of specialty coffee.

To this day, Elida Estate continues to be managed by descendants of the Lamastus family, including estate owner Wilford, his father Thatcher, and Wilford Jr., the fourth-generation successor.

As a traditional coffee-growing family, coffee has become integrated into their family heritage. Wilford was born on a small coffee farm, and his parents were also born on coffee farms. Today, the coffee produced by the estate comes from Elida Estate, Donkey Estate, and Luisito Estate.

Meticulous Harvesting and Processing

In addition to the exceptional high altitude and microclimate, estate owner Wilford has invested considerable effort in harvesting and processing methods. To achieve the highest standards, Elida Estate's coffee is only hand-picked from the most mature coffee cherries ("Ripe on Pinton"). The high maturity of these cherries results in higher sugar content in the mucilage, which forms the foundation of Elida's premium flavor profile.

Beyond his extremely strict approach to coffee cultivation and processing, estate owner Wilford is also more rigorous than industry peers in the "purification" of green coffee beans after processing. For Panama's Elida Estate, after the green beans are processed, they undergo more than five months of low-temperature resting to eliminate greenness. This allows the coffee's flavor to develop in a more balanced and full-bodied manner.

(Low-temperature resting is a green bean purification concept strongly promoted by coffee master George Howell since 2006. We've found that while green beans from subtropical regions need to be stored at low temperatures, different processing methods and altitudes can change the required duration of low-temperature resting. For Panama's Elida Estate, five months of low-temperature resting is optimal.)

As one of Panama's oldest coffee estates and one of the highest altitude estates in the Boquete region, Elida Estate grows Geisha at ultra-high altitudes (2,050m). Not only has it won multiple BOP championships, but it also holds the BOP cupping score record (in 2018, Elida Green Top Natural Geisha broke the 2016 record with an exceptionally high score of 94.66, surpassing the previous Elida Green Top Natural Geisha score of 94.15).

Sustainability and Environmental Practices

In addition to creating excellent coffee cultivation conditions, the Lamastus family, which operates Elida Estate, has planted many different native tree species within the estate. These not only provide shade for the coffee trees but also offer a friendly habitat for birds. In terms of fertilization, the Lamastus family uses manual fertilization and minimal chemical fertilizers, but they absolutely avoid using environmentally harmful pesticides and herbicides.

Flavor Profile and Cupping Notes

Elida's select batches consistently rank among Panama's best, with prices increasing year by year. Among Central American estates, Elida should be considered the most distinctive for its "Kenyan blackberry" notes. Its blackberry and persistent complex fruit flavors often leave people in awe. Judges are also particularly drawn to Elida's unique "savory flavor," a term derived from "Umami." Currently, many experts include "umami" as the fifth basic taste (alongside sweet, sour, bitter, and salty). The effect of umami is similar to monosodium glutamate, enhancing flavor in foods like dried shiitake mushrooms, aged cheese, and kombu. Umami in coffee is related to good "aftertaste" - for example, a long and pleasant sensation after sipping, all of which are part of the savory taste experience.

The Typica Variety

Typica is one of the oldest varieties of Arabica coffee discovered today, with another being Bourbon. The Arabica species originates from Ethiopia, where this variety still grows naturally in the local primary rainforest highlands today.

Typica beans are slender and elongated, the tree is tall and elegant, and the cherries are oval-shaped with slightly inclined branches. Typica has four slender branches that spread at an angle of 50-70 degrees. The coffee yield per tree is very low, but the cupping score is very high.

The equipment, utensils, and processing steps at Elida's processing facility are all meticulously designed. Generally, when coffee cherries processed to a certain stage have a moisture content exceeding 20% for extended periods, not only do the high-quality components inside the coffee cherries easily dissipate, but there's also the possibility of off-flavors developing. Combined with the high altitude of Elida's processing facility, specialized equipment is used to control the temperature and timing during drying - all of which must be controlled with precision.

Natural Processing Method

The green beans undergo a natural processing method rare in Central America - manually harvested dark reddish-purple berries at peak ripeness, then directly sun-dried for over two weeks. The sugars from the pulp and the恰到好处的 fermentation products from the natural drying process are all concentrated and penetrate into the coffee beans, giving this rare high-altitude FrontStreet Coffee Panama Natural Coffee an intense dry aroma that blends strawberry, cream, and toasted notes, as well as a transformation into rich berries and tropical fruits mixed with vanilla when tasted.

Brewing Recommendations

FrontStreet Coffee recommends brewing methods: Siphon, Pour-over

Grind size: 3.5 (Japanese Fuji R440)

V60 dripper, 15g coffee, water temperature 90°C, grind 3.5, water-to-coffee ratio close to 1:15

30g water for bloom, bloom time 30s

Segmentation: Pour water to 120ml, pause, then slowly pour to 225ml

That is: 30-120-225

Upon tasting, you can clearly detect flavors of peach, raisin, and orange, followed by the emergence of sucrose and melon sweetness, with a finish featuring grapefruit and green tea notes.

[FrontStreet Coffee Panama Elida Estate Natural Coffee Beans] Purchase link: https://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=a1z10.3-c-s.w4002-15673140470.10.f7241b50pCetSi&id=575648438828

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