MICE 2022 - DAY THREE

PANAMA

ST. ALi presents 'Panama', the birthplace of opulent coffee. Panama has long been revered for its high quality coffee and especially its Gesha. First brought to global attention in 2004 by the famous Hacienda La Esmeralda, the Gesha variety took the world by surprise with its unique flavour and complex cup. However, on the opposite side of Volcan Baru to Hacienda La Esmeralda, there is a unique pocket of farmland, Santa Clara. This tiny region continues to draw our attention. 'Panama' is a showcase of the regions work. 



TASTING MENU


Finca Santa Teresa is where many of our team members first fell in love with Gesha coffee and more importantly, natural process Gesha coffee. Therefore, in our opinion, no Panama showcase is complete without their presence. Hartmann Estate is another that has long featured on our lists with their exceptional coffee, their Maragogipe is an exquisite example of complex Panamanian coffee. Rounding out the collection is an exceptional washed Gesha, again from the Hartmann family. 


The coffees presented in 'Panama' are representative of the exceptional quality produced in the region and showcases some of our current favourites. 

HARTMANN ESTATE - Gesha Washed

The Hartmanns are third generation producers and a bit of a legend in these parts. The Hartmann family have been credited with making speciality coffee a thing in Panama and each one of them have contributed greatly. Kelly is a revered agronomist and manages many of the farms in the area. Ratibor is an exceptional copper and helped to set up the Specialty Coffee Association of Panama. Allan, Alexander and Aliss focus more on the farm directly but they are well known figures in the industry. 


They have always held a deep respect for their land and try to tread lightly. They have 100 hectares of reserve on the property and they implement bird friendly strategies throughout. They try not to cut trees and only plant natives as shade trees on the property. 


Name 

Gesha - Hartmann Estate - Washed

Farm

Hartmann Estate

Producer 

Ratibor Hartmann and Family 

Country

Panama 

Region 

Santa Clara

MASL 

1250

Variety 

Gesha

Processing 

Washed 

Notes

White Florals and Bubblegum 

Finca Santa Teresa - GESHA SOPHIE Natural

Finca Santa Teresa produced the very first Panama Gesha green buyer Lucy ever drank. It set her up for a lifetime of chasing that classic washed gesha taste. Its hard to describe it, complex with that elegance and the unmistakable floral note you get in a well produced Panamanian Gesha. The Sophie plot is the highest on the farm and made up entirely of green tip geisha. The farm sits right next to Volcan Baru, so the soils are rich and productive. It is right next door to one of our other favorite Panamanian farms, Hartmann Estate. 


Name 

Gesha Sophie - Finca Santa Teresa - Natural

Farm

Finca Santa Teresa 

Producer 

Toby Smith 

Country

Panama

Region 

Santa Clara, Renacimiento

MASL 

1580

Variety 

Gesha 

Processing 

Natural 

Notes

Turkish Delight & Custard Apple 


Hartmann Estate - MARAGOGIPE Honey

The Hartmanns were the first producers to grow and export the delicious Maragogipe variety in Panama. But quite honestly they are more influential to Panama than just this. They have been credited with making speciality coffee actually a thing in Panama and each one of them have contributed greatly. Kelly is a revered agronomist and manages many of the farms in the area. Ratibor is an exceptional cupper and helped to set up the Specialty Coffee Association of Panama. Allan, Alexander and Aliss focus more on the farm directly but they are well known figures in the industry. 


They have always held a deep respect for their land and try to tread lightly. They have 100 hectares of reserve on the property and they implement bird friendly strategies throughout. They try not to cut trees and only plant natives as shade trees on the property. 


Name 

Maragogipe - Hartmann Estate - Honey

Farm

Hartmann Estate

Producer 

Ratibor Hartmann and family 

Country

Panama 

Region 

Santa Clara

MASL 

1250 

Variety 

Maragogipe

Processing 

Honey 

Notes

Pineapple Juice and Orange Blossom 


MEET THE PRODUCER - NATHANIEL FLEMING


We're incredibly excited to be joined by Nathaniel Fleming of Finca Santa Teresa, one of the leading producers of natural process Gesha. Nathaniel will join us to personally present the farm's coffee, Gesha Sophie. 


STAND 91 - 11AM & 2:30PM


ABOUT NATHANIEL

Throughout the last 7 years Nathaniel Fleming has been involved in Finca Santa Teresa with his family, who are co-owners of this specialty coffee farm nested high in the volcanic mountains of Chiriquí, Panama. He works both at farm level, introducing modern processing techniques, and closer to the consuming side of the supply chain, introducing modernised packaging and marketing . His goals are to reduce plastic use at production, and to always continue innovation practices in everything Finca Santa Teresa does. He is currently based in Sydney.



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