Panama Kotowa Duncan

About Panama Kotowa Duncan

Arrived December 2022, new crop, in grainpro.  We will offer this coffee in two preparations, washed and natural.  This is the washed process version.

We have had a longstanding relationship with Ricardo Koyner and his family, the producers of Kotowa coffees. We have offered a number of their coffees over the years including the top ranked Las Brujas Geisha and coffee from the Duncan property. We are pleased to be offering it once again, this time as a washed coffee.

The Kotowa farm, in its third generation, has several outstanding plots of land. We have had the pleasure of visiting Kotowa's farms, their old wetmill and their wonderful home, overlooking the beautiful Boquete mountainside and the Baru Volcano. Ricardo Koyner owns coffee shops too, located throughout Panama City and elsewhere in Panama, so much of Kotowa's production is used at home, reducing exportable quantities. In 2016 Cafe Kotowa was awarded the 3rd edition of the Best Producer Panama Cup which recognizes the producer whose coffees make it to the final round of each category in the Best of Panama competition.

This is a pedigreed coffee at an affordable price. Cafe Kotowa has had impressive showings in the last several Best of Panama coffee competitions, taking home 3rd place in 2020 in the "Traditional Natural" category with a Caturra lot, and securing three awards in both 2018 and 2017 in different categories.

In 2006, The National Environmental Agency presented Kotowa Coffee as the winner of The Panama National Award for "The Years Environmentally Cleanest Industry". They provide free medical attention for their workers, and for the children they have a nursery with meals and a school program. Kotowa's social programs for the children and families producing this great coffee has earned them recognition from UNICEF nine years in a row.

• Farm Name: Cafe Kotowa
• Coffee Name: Kotowa Duncan
• Variety: Caturra and Catuai
• Process: Washed
• Elevation: 1700 meters (5600 feet)
• Growing Region: El Salto, Volcancito
• Owner: Ricardo Koyner
• Exporter: Specialty Coffee Association of Panama
• Mill: Cafe Kotowa

Cup Characteristics: Very balanced, clean with fleshy fruit notes such as apricot, nectarine, etc. Substantial body, medium but present acidity.

Roasting Notes: Like most dense, hard bean and delicate coffees, we always suggest keeping it to the lighter roast side, maybe midway between first and second crack. This maximizes nuances, in this case the lemony, silkiness that further roasting will diminish. On a Behmor try P2 or P1 to bring it up faster or shift to manual for a quick ramp then slowly glide into the development phase.