Carmen Estate Gesha Coffee Beans

Panama's Carmen Estate claims to practice “100% hand-picking at high altitude near volcanoes,” and recently made its debut at the Panama International Trade Fair, drawing considerable attention. It also achieved a top ten finish in the Natural Gesha category of this year’s Best of Panama (BOP) green coffee competition.

Located in Boquete, a premier coffee-growing region in Panama, Carmen Estate is part of the area famous for producing Panama’s renowned Gesha (GEISHA) coffee. The estate’s meticulously cultivated Gesha beans boast floral and fruity notes of jasmine and citrus, bright acidity reminiscent of lemon, and a sweet vanilla finish. The cup has a well-balanced body and a long, lingering aftertaste.

Estate ownership: Family-based

Coffee cultivation history: Arabica coffee varieties have been cultivated since 1950, with coffee grown under the shade of 60% of the estate’s natural primary forest. Today, the estate’s single processing facility produces approximately 1,200 bags (each 60 kg) of high-quality coffee beans annually.

Location: Within a volcanic valley at an elevation of 1,750 m in the Boquete region of Chiriquí Province, Panama

Soil: Fertile black volcanic soil

Climate: Influenced by both the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, the climate is cool with no frost at night

Harvest season: Late December to March of the following year

Certification: Certified as an Eco-OK environmentally sustainable coffee by the Rainforest Alliance Association (This certification is very strict, requiring every stage of the process—from cultivation to green bean milling—to meet organic and eco-friendly requirements, such as maintaining biodiversity on the estate, zero-pollution processing, reduced or limited use of synthetic fertilizers, and socioeconomic safeguards for coffee farmers on the estate.)