Origin |
Panama |
Region |
Alto Lino, Boquete, Panamá |
Farm |
Bonita Springs |
Producer |
Miró family |
Fermentation |
Natural |
Arabica Variety |
Caturra / Catuaí |
Altitude |
1300m |
Roasting profile |
Omni Light (good for espresso | filter) |
Resting period |
Filter 7 days | Espresso 14 days |
Bonita Springs
I had the pleasure of visiting Bonita Springs farm back in January, and I must say, the landscape left me utterly captivated. It brought back memories of enjoying the delightful coffee from Finca Bonita several years ago, which was exceptional at the time. Now, I'm convinced it's even more outstanding.
The Miró family's dedication is truly remarkable, and it's heartening to see Yessie Hartmann, daughter of Ratibor and Tessie Hartmann, skillfully managing the farm. Spanning across 36 hectares of pristine coffee-growing land nestled in the heart of the Boquete valley, the farm is a haven abundant with water. It's graced by two rivers, four streams, five natural springs, and two enchanting waterfalls that gracefully weave through the land, enriching the soil and nurturing a diverse range of local flora and fauna. The valley's generous rainfall, coupled with its humid climate and the interplay of refreshing Atlantic winds and warmer Pacific breezes, gifts the property with a tapestry of distinctive micro-climates. Remarkably, this treasure trove is merely a 10-minute jaunt from the vibrant center of Boquete town.
Renowned for their natural-processed Catuaí and Caturra coffee beans, they're thrilled to expand their offerings, breathing new life into their coffee cultivation. Their recent ventures have seen the introduction of Pacamara, SL-28, Wush Wush, and Laurina varieties, complementing their cherished Catuaí / Caturra beans. Looking ahead, they eagerly anticipate diversifying their range further while steadfastly preserving the exceptional quality and distinctive flavors that stem from their one-of-a-kind terroir.
With all that said, I'd like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the entire family: Pamela, Juan, Olmedo and Yessie. Your collective dedication and hard work are truly admirable.
Fermentation Natural
Natural process, dry process, unwashed, or natural sundried all refer to the same method of processing that usually involves drying coffee cherries either on patios or raised beds in the sun. To prevent the cherries from spoiling, they are raked and turned throughout the day and then covered at night or during rainstorms. This process, which can take 3-6 weeks normally, is the more-traditional method of processing coffee. This process of drying the cherries out in the sun originated in places without reliable access to water and usually works best in areas with low humidity and infrequent rain — such as parts of Ethiopia and Yemen — although there are farmers using the natural process in other places as well, like central or south America.
After the cherries have been dried to the optimum level, they are sent to mills to separate the seeds from the rest of the dried fruit, otherwise known as being “hulled.”
Arabica Variety Caturra / Catuai
Caturra is a natural hybrid of Bourbon, one of the world's most culturally and genetically important varieties of arabica coffee. But although Bourbon originated in Ethiopia, the first Caturra seeds were found more than 10,000km away on the borders of Minas Gerais and Espírito Santo in Brazil
Catuai is a cross between highly productive Mundo Novo and compact Caturra, made by the Instituto Agronomico (IAC) of Sao Paulo State in Campinas, Brazil. The plant is highly productive compared to Bourbon, in part because of its small size, which allows plants to be closely spaced; it can be planted at nearly double the density. It is mainly characterized by great vigor and its low height; it is less compact than Caturra. It is highly susceptible to coffee leaf rust. Catuaí derives from the Guarani multo mom, meaning “very good." The cultivar was created in 1949 from a crossing of yellow Caturra and Mundo Novo, and initially called H-2077.The variety was released in Brazil 1972 after pedigree selection (selection of individual plants through successive generations) and is in wide cultivation there.