Finca La Florentina ~ San Ramon

Name:　Finca La Florentina
Roaster: Home roast
Roasting degree: Full-City
Area: Volcan, Paso Ancho,  Chirqui, Panama
Variety:  San Ramon
Grade: SHB
Screen: N/A
Altitude: 1,200 - 1,600m
Defect: N/A
Processing Method: Fully Washed

【Flavor scale】
Aroma: 5
Sweetness: 5
Acidity: 2
Bitterness: 1
Richness: 2       
※Grade 1 to 5 

【Impression】
Light, sweet aroma, caramel, vanilla, a tip of nutty feeling, roasted pecan nuts, smooth texture, citric flavor as a top, white grapefruits, sheer lime, nurturing sweetness, well balanced nutty sweetness and mellow bitterness, roasted almond, barley syrup, molts, a sheer bitterness as cacao nib, cane syrup like  subtle sweetness a long lasting after taste.

【Note】
San Ramon is Typica's natural hybrid fond in San Ramon city, western Costa Lica, in 1930s.  Shape of the beans does not remind us of Typica.  San Ramon has higher cup quality in average ahs suitable for higher altitude.
La Florentina had been tied up with starbacks' exclusive contract.  With the termination, La Florentina focus on single spices mucro-lot cultivation, such as San Ramon.     

Finca Hartmann

Name: Finca Hartmann
Roaster:  Doi Coffee
Roasting degree: Full-city
Area: Chiriqui, Santa Clara, Panama
Variety: Pacas
Grade: SHB-EP
Screen: 17up
Altitude: 1,500m
Defect: 0-6/300g
Processing Method: Fully Washed
※Rainforest alliance certified 

【Flavor scale】
Aroma: 3
Sweetness: 4
Acidity: 4
Bitterness: 2
Richness: 2
※Grade 1 to 5

【Impression】
Medium dark, chocolaty, citric, grapefruits, lime, round, mellow, sheer spare mint like soothing aroma on top, silky texture, full body, bold, high in acidity, lemony, high tone of lime, cacao, fruity bitterness, tangy as purple grape skins, honey like deep sweetness, peach like sheer flavor, earthy, spicy, tangy bitterness as a long lasting aftertaste.     

【Note】
This panama somewhat has similar impression as African beans, Kenya: earthy and soothing.  Lighter roasting may bring fruitiness, such as grapefruits, peach and so on, to surface.  

Panama Pea Berry

Beans: Panama Pea Berry
Roasting Degree: Medium ~ Medium dark
Roaster: Million Coffee, Kyoto

【Impression】
Medium, creamy texture, mellow, nutty & honey aroma, sweet aroma as freshly baked butter milk cookies, juicy sweetness as roasted almonds and cashews, goose berries,  deep sweetness balloons, broad-brushed bitterness, succulent flavor, growing sweetness as a long lasting aftertaste.  

【Note】
Well harmonized and good value.  Flavor and aroma fully express "Pea Berries".  
There are many popular/well-known coffee roasters in Kyoto, but, somehow, a small local roaster  gleams richly with higher achievements.  "Because roasting is my enjoyments", the roster said.  Roasting machines may have "appropriate amount" not only per batch but per day.  Certainly, human ability, such as five senses and concentration, has the peak curve.  
With space limitation, maybe a small hobby like local roaster carries higher ability to amuse and to entertain coffee lover's mind.        

La Berlina Estate: Special lot

Beans: Panama La Berlina Estate Special lot
Roaster: Akai-mi Coffee
Roasting degree: Medium Roast
Area: Rubengera, Horqueta, Boquete region, 
      Chiriqui Province, Panama

Altitude: 1,450m ～ 
Varietals: Bourbon, Typica
Grade: N/A
Processing method: Wet process(Washed) 







 【Impression】
Light to medium body, citrus lemony aroma with white grapes, clear transparent, airy texture, mellow, crisp, well-balanced sweetness and bitterness with clear thin layer of acidity on top, sweetness of roasted nuts, almonds, hazelnuts, tangy but flat acidity gradually growing, mellow watery sweetness as a long lasting aftertaste.  
This cup is definitely for hand-drip, hot, w/o milk and sugar.  Good pair with summer sweets like naturally sweetened bavarois and blancmange, something not heavy.  
Once a cup chilled, sweetness and bitterness lay low and tangy acidity grows.  

【Note: La Berlina Estate】

Located near Boquete, one of the finest coffee growing area of Panama, La Berlina has impressed the world coffee market sunce 90's.  Coffee from this estate has won several prestagious awards, such as 1st place on Best of Panama, which made the name of Berlina well known.  From organic to prestagious, La Berlina Estate satisfies and leads Panaman coffee world.

Talking Coffee beans has a well balanced deep flavor, moderate sweetness, with a mild citrus crispness in the cup.  Hints of chocolate are present.  Its finish is called "refined" by one coffee expert .  Since La Berlina is one of the few estates still growing exclusively old Typica trees and not higher yield producing hybrids, this selection offers you a chance to experience the full flavor of old style coffee.  It is perhaps, the quintessential Central American Cup.

Panama Peaberry

Beans: La Berlina Estate Peaberry
Roaster: Akai-mi Coffee
Roast: Full City
Origin/Area: Boquete, Chirqui, Panama
Altitude: 1,450~1,600m
Variety: Typica､Peaberry
Grade: SHB
Screen: 11-13
Process: Fully washed, 100% sun-dry







【Impression】
Medium body, honey like sweetness, but light in texture. A tip of bitterness remained as aftertaste with mild sourness.  Since Peberry, in general, tastes lighter and soft to me, this beans feels same but leaves strong impression with its sweetness and clearness in taste.
Black is recommended to enjoy this soothing and refreshing cup.

Duncan Estate

Beans: Duncan Estate

Roaster: Four Barrel
Origin/Area: Kotowa farm,
Volcancillo de Boquete de Chiriqui, Northern Panama

Elevation: 1675-1775 m
Variety: Caturra and Typica


【Impression】
Medium Body, light and mild texture.  Lemon/lime like sourness, pear like light touch sweetness, refreshing taste of lemonglass.  Round and Mild bitternss harmonized with fruity flavor comes with almonds' flower like sweet aroma.





In the States, especially in CA area, Organically grown coffees are de-facto standard at any coffee roasters, which might apply to coffee roasters/shops on my list, I know.

Kotowa farm is located in the area where has the wonderful wheather balance, combination of rain, wind, sunshine and clouds, with cool temperatures on top of Volcanc-soil. 
"Duncan" is the area located in the middle of Kotowa-farm, perched on the south-facing slopes of Volcancillo.
The owner, Ricardo Koyner, is one of the finest organic coffee producers, who has the earnest commitment to the farm.  His passion results in high yields coupled with outstanding quality which often proved by customers and auctions.

Duncan estate promote various flavor and aroma each year.  One year, very flowery, one year fruity...  Tasting their cup, we can experience Panaman wheather variations...

ELIDA ESTATE Panama

It has been a loooong time ago... 

Somewhat, this bag of beans, "Elida Estate", from Verve was completely off my list to be uploaded.

Fortunately, almost all impression/comments of cupping/tastings are recorded; here is the very first Verve beans:

Beans: Elida Estate
Roaster: Verve Coffee Roasters, Santa Cruz

Region: Alto Quiel, BOQUETE, PanamaAltitude:  1,670-1,825m
Varieties: Catuai
Process: traditional fermentation,
                Sun-dry at low temperature
【Impression】

Fruity, papaya like aroma with floral bouquet fragrance.  Light, mild body with well balanced flavor, sweetness of well matured passion fruits and Hazelnuts, touch of bitterness, spiciness of roasted nuts, with sourness of citrus as aroma and aftertaste. 

Referring to my knowledge....Panama has quickly become one of the core countries named as the top Specialty coffee producers.  Especially BOQUETE region is known as production area of the highest quality coffee beans.  Among all of Panamanian Estates, Elida Estate is located 1,600～1,800m in altitude, the highest in BOQUETE region, and found as the final stage nominee of “Best of Panama”, Competition of Specialty Coffee in Panama.  Elida Estate also grow Typica and Bourbon. 

I hope to visit Verve again and try their new, 2010 crop if I have a chance in this summer.

Don Pepe Estate

Beans: Panama Don pepe

Roaster: Doi Coffee

Roasting degree: Full city

Estate: Don pepe

Area: Boquete, Chiriqui, Panama

Varieties: 100% Bourbon

Altitude: 1,550-1,800m

Processing: Fully washed, 100% Sun-dried

【About Don Pepe Estate】
Don Pepe Estate is located on the slopes of Baru Volcano, between 1500 to 1700m in altitude, in Panama's famous Boquete growing region.
Blessed with Tropic climate, Panama contributes and focuses on, so called, specialty coffee cultivation especially in Chiriqui, Western part of Panama.
Since 1899, Don Pepe Estate has devoted their effort on growing high quality coffee beans.  Blessed with environments, Volcanic ash and high altitudes, they became well recognized coffee estate in Panama.  Cofee berries are divided in small lots and processed in wet methods, then the parchment are fully sun-dried over African beds.

【Impression】
　　Dark strong body, full flavored, silky texture, leaves similar impression as high quality bourbon whisky.  Citrus acidity of Orange and lime mixed, dark chocolate like cacao aroma, hazelnuts like sweetness with deep Tanzania cacao like dark and layered bitterness with buttery mildness in flavor.  Pearly shiny round flavor, bitterness and sweetness in center,  with a touch of citrus acidity in long lasting aftertaste. 
　　This cup has strong character and leaves a memorable impression, easy to retrieve its flavor.  Good for afternoon cup, on fall to winter afternoon.

Gran Delval

Name: Gran Delval
Roaster: Tetsunori Todoroki, Todoroki Coffee
Roasting grade: Full City
Area of Production： Boquete, Republic of Panama
Variety: 100% Arabica

Rain forest alliance approved.

【Roaster's Comment】
Gran Delval is Characterized by Aroma of Almonds and Sweetness of Chocolates.

【Impression】
Large size beans!  Aromatic, sweet and nutty, and clean taste.  Light, clear body clean cup, very aromatic, sweet and sound, with good balance and medium acidity.

Gran Delval

Beans: Gran Delval
Roaster: Hiro Coffee
Roasting Degree: Medium 
Region: Boquete, Chirqui, Panama

Rain forest alliance certified

【Impression】 

Sweet, Clear, light, full layer of flavor, cacao, orange, apricot