Nav: Home > Coffee >

King of Value in Central American Coffee — Panamanian Coffee

Published: 2026-01-27 Author: FrontStreet Coffee

Last Updated: 2026/01/27, Cultivation Environment Panama is a small country located in the center of the American continent. Its beaches are washed by the waters of two great oceans, the Atlantic and Pacific. Panama is located at 9 degrees north latitude, a convergence point of mountain ranges, where one of Central America's highest volcanoes, Volcán Barú, is found. Volcán Barú has an altitude of over 11,400 feet

FrontStreet Coffee · Panama Coffee Growing Environment

Panama is a small country located in the center of the American continent. Its beaches are washed by the waters of both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.

Panama is situated at 9 degrees north latitude, at a convergence point of mountain ranges. Volcán Barú, one of the highest volcanoes in Central America, is located here.

With an altitude exceeding 11,400 feet, Volcán Barú is surrounded by land rich in nutrient-dense, fertile soil, providing ideal conditions for the sowing and cultivation of Panama's distinctive coffee varieties.

These highlands possess suitable microclimates, soil, temperature, and altitude that are perfect for the sowing, planting, and harvesting of various distinctive coffee varieties. These coffees exhibit multiple flavor profiles including jasmine, citrus, ripe fruits, berries, caramel, special sweetness, vanilla, and chocolate.

Unique Coffee

The microclimates of Panama's highlands are the most important resource that makes Panama's distinctive coffee unique.

The most crucial resource that makes Panama's distinctive coffee unique is its microclimate. Panama's east-to-west environmental configuration allows cold air currents to flow through the mountain convergence at altitudes above 6,500 feet, thereby creating various microclimates in the Boquete and Volcán-Candela regions, making them the main production areas for Panama's distinctive coffee. These distinctive coffees are cultivated in the nutrient-rich, balanced lands of the Volcán Barú region.

Panama's distinctive coffee is classified into small batches and numbered. These small batches are designed with limited capacity to optimize management, while the classification and numbering enable buyers to understand and track information throughout the entire process.

Due to their limited quantity, Panama coffee products are based on specialty coffee. The country supplies its premium products to specialty stores worldwide, including in Denmark, the United Kingdom, Greece, Norway, Sweden, South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, and the United States.

Panama Coffee - The King of Value for Money in Central American Coffee

Panama has appeared among the world's best coffee-producing countries for the past three years, surprising nations that have long been pioneers in coffee production. Panama's main coffee-producing region is in the west, bordering Costa Rica, where exceptional washed coffee is produced. Compared to coffee beans grown in lower 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, exhibiting the most intense and distinctive flavors, with the hardest coffee bean density.

High-Altitude Coffee Excellence

Coffee beans from high-altitude regions possess the most complete flavor profiles, higher body, and diverse flavors such as chocolate, caramel, and floral notes. They offer a smooth mouthfeel with balanced acidity and bitterness. Panama's extremely high-altitude grown beans represent one of the most outstanding varieties.

Panama's Boquete Region

The Boquete region of Panama, located in the Chiriquí province bordering Costa Rica, is the origin of Panama's famous Geisha coffee and is renowned worldwide 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 and MacIntyre families. 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, making it one of the most famous coffee plantations in the region.

Panama Coffee's Rising Recognition

In fact, Panama-produced coffee has long not received the recognition and attention it deserves in the specialty coffee market. Good Panama coffee has often been used by unscrupulous merchants to counterfeit Hawaiian Kona coffee or even Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee. Panama coffee generally falls into the medium to low price range, but its performance in the cup often rivals that of famous, even extremely expensive coffee origins. Excellent Panama coffee features bright, clean flavors with comfortable, moderate body (mouthfeel) and even outstanding complexity. In a few more years, these high-quality, reasonably priced specialty-grade Panama coffees will become popular worldwide!

FrontStreet Coffee · Panama Specialty Coffee Beans Introduction - Geisha

Panama Geisha: A rare wild variety, frequent champion in various international tasting competitions. The green beans are elongated in shape, while the roasted beans possess unexpected citrus fragrance with floral and fruity sweetness in the aftertaste. Absolutely a unique specialty coffee.

Geisha originates from a very rare wild variety in Ethiopia. The bean's name may derive from being discovered near a small village called Geisha. The coffee trees grow tall with slender leaves, are resistant to coffee leaf rust, and feature widely spaced branches on the trunk. The green beans are elongated, while the roasted beans have strong, intense fruity aromatic characteristics. Due to low harvest yields, this variety cannot be acquired for commercial trade.

Coffee Cultivation History

Coffee was first cultivated in the Americas around the 1720s. Today, coffee cultivation holds an extremely important economic position in Panama. The Republic of Panama was established on November 3, 1903. A coffee factory with nearly a century of history is located within a charming tropical rainforest valley.

FrontStreet Coffee · Panama Coffee Origins:

Panama's premium coffee is grown in the western part of the country, near Costa Rica and close to the Pacific. The coffee produced in the Boquete district of Chiriquí province is most famous, with Vocan and Santa Clara also being well-known. Other regions include the David district, Remacimeinto district, Bugaba district, and Tole district. Only coffee grown at altitudes between 1,300 and 1,500 meters is considered specialty coffee.

Cafe Volcan Baru, recognized by critics, shows promising momentum and possesses exceptional quality.

FrontStreet Coffee · Panama Coffee's Flavor Characteristics:

Panama coffee is very smooth, light-bodied, and balanced in acidity. Its premium coffee beans offer pure, highly distinctive flavors.

Flavor Profile: Full-bodied, excellent quality

Recommended Roasting Method: Medium roast

Rating: ★★ - Good

Panama Coffee Market:

Panama's first annual coffee export shipment departs in November, with almost all premium coffee beans being sent to France and Finland. Panama coffee generally falls into the medium to low price range, but its performance in the cup often rivals that of famous, even extremely expensive coffee origins. Panama specialty coffee commands among the highest prices in the international market.