About This Coffee
The Hartmann family patriarch, Alois St. Hartmann, was born in Czechoslovakia in 1891. In 1914, at the onset of First World War, Hartmann emigrated to Pennsylvania in the United States where he changed his name to Luis Hartmann. Hartmann later purchased land in Chiriqui, in Panama and built a house. On that land, Hartmann began growing the first coffee trees on the Hartmann Estate.
Direct descendants of Luis Hartmann own and manage the estate today. Third generation, Ratibor Hartmann manages the business and each of his four siblings oversees a specific aspect of the farm. There is a warm family vibe at this estate and issues are resolved smoothly in a way that you can tell that this family has lived together all their lives.
Cultivation
This variety comes from a local landrace in the Amaro Gallo region of Ethiopia. The variety is used to high altitudes and cool climates with nutrient-rich soils. The “chicho” comes from the name of Ratibor Hartmann’s father, who passed away. The Hartmann family, who are passionate about cultivating unique and exquisite varieties, first planted Chicho Gallo in the early 2010s.
Harvest & Post-Harvest
After harvest, cherry is pulped. Coffee and mucilage is moved to raised drying beds. Parchment is visually inspected to remove damaged or over- and under-ripes. Raised beds allow for better airflow throughout drying that help prevent over-ripening, fermenting or spoiling. Parchment is 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.