Thumbnail Filmstrip of Panama Carmen Estate 1900 Caturra Natural Images

About Panama Carmen Estate 1900 Caturra Natural

Arrived October 2024, latest crop and a direct trade coffee. We have had a relationship with Carmen Estate for many years. Our friend, Carlos Aguilera Franceschi and his family owned the farm for many years. It was founded by his parents and named after his mother Carmen in the 1960s. Carlos took over ownership and management over time and the farm frequently produced award winning coffee. In 2023, farm ownership passed to the Dashang Group of China. Much of the work on the farm, and the technical know-how and direction of its coffee, has been steered in recent years by Jean Paul Langenstein. His influence spans both owners and provided not only a smooth transition, but the coffee has become even more elevated in quality.

Carmen Estate has won or placed in almost every Best of Panama competition:

2024 - #2 Geisha Natural - 95 points
2024 - #4 Geisha Natural
2024 - #4 Varieties, Catuai Gran Reserva
2023 - #1 Geisha Washed - 96.5 points
2023 - #9 Geisha Natural
2023 - #10 Caturra Washed
2020 - #1 Traditional Washed, Gran Reserva
2019 - #7 Geisha Washed
2018 - #3 Traditional Washed and #4 Geisha Natural
2017 - #2 Geisha Washed, #4 Geisha Washed (Palomar Estate), #5 Traditional Natural and #4 Traditional Washed
2015 - #5 Traditional Washed Caturra and #9 Natural
On and on back to at least 2003

Jean Paul Langenstein

Carlos Aguilera Franceschi

Carmen Estate is located in the Volcan Valley part of the Baru Volcano region of Panama, near Boquete. The valley is considered the most important coffee growing region in Panama due to its elevation, dense vegetation, volcanic soil and diverse micro-climates. The cool, frost-free nights coupled with dry, sunny days create ideal coffee growing conditions. The farm's coffee is grown at an altitude of 5,900 feet. Carmen Estate produces about 1200 bags of green coffee annually; they grow catuai, caturra, typica and geisha varietals. It is harvested from December through March and hand picked by the Nobes, the indigenous people of Panama.Until the recent past, the farm produced mainly wet (washed) processed and sun or mechanically dried on the farm.They have since become very adept at natural processing. The farm practices strict agricultural and environmental standards; more than half the land is forested by native trees, which naturally shade the coffee and it is certified by the Rainforest Alliance.

The Volcan Valley follows the course of the Chiriquí Viejo river as it flows down from the mountains of Cerro Punta to the Pacific Ocean. Their rich volcanic black soil and superb drainage are ideal for Arabica Coffee. Its proximity to both Pacific and Atlantic Ocean provide a unique micro-climate with cool, frost-free nights coupled with dry, sun-drenched days. Volcan’s pairing of excellent volcanic black soils with an outstanding micro-enviroment has led to its recognition as one of the finest coffee growing regions of Panama.

Farm: Carmen Estate
Province: Chiriqui
District: Tierras Altas
Corregimiento: Volcan
Altitude: 1900 meters
Coffee Variety: Caturra
Processing: Natural

Cupping Characteristics: A very nice, clean Natural that is fruity but not overly so. Cranberry notes, pomegranate juice, winey. Subtle citric brightness. Sweet with layers of delicate chocolate and fruit flavors. A balanced, all around cup.

Roasting Notes: Roasting Notes: City + to FC maximum. Keep it on the light (City+) side to retain the citrus brightness and keep away roasty flavors.