About This Coffee
Owner Marie Jackie Mercer Vallarino has been growing and exporting coffee since the early 2000s and she takes great pride in producing top quality coffees.
Marie Jackie and Los Cantares Estate gained critical acclaim in 2012 when a Geisha Fully washed lot from the farm won 1st place in the Best of Panama quality competition. The estate placed again in 2014 with a 2nd place win.
Located near the Volcan Baru National Park, Los Cantares Estate was established in 1929. Proximity to the national park, volcanic soil and high altitudes of 1,500 to 1,650 meters above sea level creates the perfect microclimate for producing high quality Geisha lots like this one.
Cultivation
Native trees provide shade for coffee trees. In addition to Geisha, Maria Jackie also cultivates Typica, Catuai, Caturra, Bourbon and San Ramon on the estate. The farm receives approximately 3,000 to 5,000 millimeters of rain each year.
Harvest & Post-Harvest
Only ripe, red cherry is selectively handpicked and processed on the estate. Cherry is pulped and fermented before being washed in clean spring water. Parchment is laid to sundry and raked frequently to ensure even drying.
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.