About This Coffee
The Osorio family arrived in Panama in 1900, when David Osorio emigrated from the Dutch Antilles. In 1915, David moved to Boquete to work on a coffee farm, where the family worked until 1940, when they moved to the city of David and worked in other fields. Harkening back to their roots in Panama, Brothers Efrain and Benjamin Osorio purchased Aristar Estate in 2001 and have been cultivating high-quality coffees ever since.
Located in La Amistad International Park, the high altitudes, humid temperatures and delicate balance of shade and sun create the ideal conditions for growing sweet, dense cherry. In these surroundings, the Geisha in this lot flourishes. Geisha is well known for its excellent profile with nuanced flavors. This Fully washed lot is floral, sweet and well balanced with stone fruit.
Cultivation
In addition to the Geisha in this lot, Efrain and Benjamin also cultivate Pacamara, Catuai and Typica varieties on the farm.
Harvest & Post-Harvest
After harvest, cherry is pulped. Coffee is then fermented and washed in clean water. Washed parchment is moved to raised drying beds. Coffee is turned regularly to promote even drying. On average, drying takes between 1 and 3 weeks.
Coffee in Panama
Though small in coffee production, Panama is a mighty player in coffee quality. In particular, Panama is famous for producing Geisha variety lots that have fetched prices exceeding $800 per pound. Today, its renown as a producer of rare and sought-after varieties positions Panama as a contender for a new kind of ‘coffee-tourism’ that has the potential to change the way we produce, purchase, consume and talk about specialty coffee on a global scale.
The high value of Geisha has brought out both the best and worst in the industry. For established producers who receive excellent prices for their Geisha and other lots, the high prices they receive have often been reinvested in their communities and in renovating their farms to be as environmentally sustainable as possible. Unfortunately, the lure of Geisha’s high value has led some people bypass traditional land purchasing agreements and illegally deforest areas of national parks to get the best location for new (and illicit) Geisha farms.
Even as the number of producers those receiving high prices for their Geisha remains relatively low, the blossoming coffee industry in Panama has demonstrated potential to raise incomes for a wider spectrum of producers and coffee workers.