Finca Sofia Manor introduction:
Sofia Manor or Finca Sophia was established in 2008 and is located on the southwest side of Volcán Barú, Panama, covering an area of approximately 19 hectares. Compared with other well-known estates in Panama, Sofia Estate is very small-scale. It is like an experimental farm. It has no way to mass-produce and can only specialize in the production of ultra-high-quality coffee in small quantities.
The manor was originally a piece of land that was abandoned due to over-cultivation. Because it had not been used for a long time, the land was overgrown with weeds and the soil condition was not optimistic. Before deciding to plant the coffee trees, the owner took soil samples and asked other Panamanian coffee growers for their opinions. Many growers at the time said that it would be possible to grow coffee trees in such soil, but it would probably be very difficult. Although the opinions given by everyone were not optimistic, the manor owner finally bought the land.
Farm history in Sofia Manor:
2009 to 2011: When Sofia Manor started planting coffee for the first time from 2009 to 2011, all the coffee trees were not spared due to mold attack. However, the manor owner did not give up.
In 2011-2012, he adjusted the cultivation techniques of coffee trees and restarted planting, allowing the coffee trees to adapt to the high-altitude environment.
In 2016 - 2017, Under the careful care of the owner of the manor, the coffee beans of Sofia Manor began to usher in a bumper harvest in 2016, and participated in the Best of Panama (BOP) competition for the first time in 2017, and directly won the championship of the geisha (Geisha variety) washed group The first place throne!
After a few years, Sofia participated again in 2020 and once again won the championship in the washed category and the runner-up in the tanned category with outstanding performance! This time, Front Street Coffee purchased sun-dried Geisha coffee beans from Sophia Manor in the 2022 production season.
As the highest altitude estate in Panama, the large temperature difference between day and night in Sofia Estate makes the production of coffee grown here very slow. Therefore, the coffee beans produced in this estate can show an amazing flavor expression. In addition to the Gesha coffee variety, the manor also grows the Kaduai variety. However, because the manor is not very large and most of the area is planted with the Geisha coffee variety, the Kaduai from Sofia Manor is only supplied to the American market. It is reported that the Caturra coffee beans produced in the manor are also very rich and charming in flavor.
In order to retain the charming floral and fruity aroma of Gesha coffee beans, Front Street Coffee uses a light roast. Through cupping comparison, this sun-treated coffee bean from Sophia Manor exhibits the dry aroma of honeydew melon and rose after grinding; after sucking, it exhibits the aroma of orange, honeydew melon, apple juice, rose, and oolong tea - high sweetness and lasting full flavor.
Nov-24-2023
Panamanian coffee is famous in the world!
There are many coffee production area in Panama: Emerald Estate,
Friends who know something about single-origin coffee should know that Panama coffee is famous in the coffee world for Geisha from Emerald Manor. It can be said that it is a country that strives for excellence in coffee and is rich in high-quality coffee.
Although Panamanian coffee is famous for the Gesha of Emerald Estate, the production area where Emerald Estate is located is also quite famous; it is the Boquete production area in Chiriqui Province.
Poquet
Poquete is a town in the Chiriquí Province. It is located near the border between Panama and Costa Rica, close to the famous Baru volcano. It has winding scenery, fertile soil, and the climate and soil are very suitable for producing high-quality coffee. It is known as the "Coffee Paradise" ” the reputation.
There are also many excellent manors scattered in the Poquette production area. In addition to Emerald Manor, there are also Elida Manor, Catowa Duncan Manor, etc., which all produce high-quality specialty coffee.
And this is not only due to the mild climatic conditions in the Poquete region of Panama and the fertile volcanic ash soil of the Baru volcano.
Another important factor is the variable microclimate in Panama's Poquet Highlands.
This is the environment of Panama from east to west, which allows cold air to flow through the central mountains and gather between 1,200 meters and 2,000 meters above sea level. The fog, rain and changeable winds in the mountainous areas create a variety of microclimates in the Poquet area. , its temperature and rainfall are very suitable for plant growth, so the coffee trees grown here are in very good condition.
Flower butterfly
Well, in the land of Poquet, there is a bean that is particularly cost-effective. And it has a very beautiful name - Butterfly.
Butterfly is composed of 70% Geisha coffee varieties, consisting of three varieties: Geisha, Caturra, and Catuai. It is planted in the Baru volcano area of Poquet and grows on the volcano at an altitude of 1,600 meters. area, the treatment plant adopts fine water washing treatment. The special local microclimate of Panama results in abundant rainfall and large temperature difference between day and night in this area. In addition, the unique volcanic soil in the volcanic area, as well as meticulous harvesting and fine processing, make this area This coffee performs quite well in terms of thickness, acidity, and floral aroma.
Coffee variety composition: geisha, Caturra, Catuai
Geisha
The special feature of Geisha is that it has a very obvious and clear floral and citrus flavor, very high cleanliness, soft and elegant acidity, long-lasting cottony sweetness, and the taste of high-end black tea. The aroma of flowers and the intense sweetness of tropical fruits, with a unique floral and fruity aroma.
Kadura
Caturra is a variant of Bourbon. It was discovered in Brazil in 1937. It has better productivity and disease resistance than Bourbon. The tree is shorter and easier to harvest. It is highly adaptable and does not require shade trees. It can also be full of vitality when exposed directly to the sun, commonly known as Sun Coffee. Kadula is suitable for planting in low altitude areas of 700 meters to high altitude areas of 1700 meters. It has strong altitude adaptability, but the higher the altitude, the better the flavor and the lower the production capacity.
Kaduai
Carduai is also a mixed breed of Arabica. It is a mixed breed of Mundo Novo (New World) and Caturra. It has relatively good resistance to natural disasters, especially wind and rain resistance. It inherits the characteristics of Cardua. The advantage of the Dura tree is its low height, which changes the disadvantage of the Mondonovo. Another advantage is that the fruit is solid and does not fall off easily when exposed to strong winds, which makes up for the weakness of the Arabica fruit.
Solar treatment
The natural treatment is to reduce the water content of the coffee through a large amount of drying. After selecting the coffee cherries, directly lay the whole coffee cherries with flesh and skin on the cement floor or drying bed to dry them naturally until the moisture content is about 12%. It takes about two to four weeks, depending on the climate of the place of origin. Depending on the condition, the drying process usually lasts about 4 weeks. Moreover, the water content of the coffee fruit itself is quite high. Leave the coffee cherries in one place for more than 20 days, and a fermentation reaction will naturally occur. If the fermentation is excessive, it is easy to cause spoilage.
Nov-24-2023
Guarumo Coffee Farm is located north of Hartman Manor in the Santa Clara production area of Chiriqui Province, Panama. It is managed by Ratibor Hartamann, the third generation of the Hartman family. The new manor purchased in 2013 covers an area of only four hectares. The coffee in this manor is planted with Gesha coffee varieties at an altitude of over 1750m.
The story of the Hartmann family in Panama can be said to be a very long history of European immigration. Alois Strasil Hartmann was born in the then Austro-Hungarian Empire, which is now the Czech Republic. Later, due to the country's political instability, he decided to start a new life elsewhere. At first, Alois stayed in New York, the United States, and then moved around. to Panama, but after a few months Alois found that he didn't adapt to the urban life in Panama City.
The DNA of adventure has always been hidden in his blood. Shortly after quitting his job, he decided to start work and settle down along the mountain line in the Wauken area. At this time, he also married his first wife Susana Troetsch and gave birth to Hart. Hartmann Troetsch, founder of Mann Estate. Later, starting in 1940, Hartmann Troetsch inherited his father's farmland and began land preparation work, thus creating the history of Hartmann Manor until today.
The first generation ancestor of the Hartmann family, Alois Strasil Hartmann, first cultivated the coffee planting area in the Walken area of Panama. Later, the second generation Hartmann Troetsch moved the coffee planting to the Santa Clara (Santa Clara) area. The Hartman Estate was officially founded.
Hartmann Troetsc decided to retain most of the original forest land in the manor during the initial reclamation, and this concept of primary forest protection has always influenced Ratibor Hartamann, the third-generation manor owner who is currently in charge of management. Now Hartman Manor still maintains this tradition. The coffee plantation land in the manor only accounts for about 20% of the whole manor. The bird has naturally become the standard logo of the manor.
In addition to their own estate, the Hartmann family also provides management services for nearby estates. For example, Ninety Plus's estate in Panama and Finca La Mula - are both managed by the Hartmann family.
Although Guaguaguo is the new manor of the Hartman family, this is not the first time that the manor has won the BOP championship~ In 2020, the sun-drenched Geisha at Guaguaguo Manor featured charming jasmine, roses, Flavors of champagne, candy and bergamot captured the hearts of a panel of judges.
Since the manor has not received much publicity, Guaguaguo Manor has rushed into everyone’s heart like a dark horse this year. This year, Guaguaguo Manor’s sun-dried Geisha coffee beans once again showed their strength and won the award. The winner of the sun-dried Geisha category in the 26th BOP competition.
Although the Guaguaguo Manor sun-dried Gesha coffee beans purchased by Front Street Coffee are not from the competition batch, they are also from the new production season of 2022. In order to preserve the charming tropical fruit and floral aroma of this sun-dried Gesha coffee bean, Front Street Coffee uses a light roast.
Through cupping comparison, this sun-processed Geisha coffee bean from Guaguaguo Manor shows the dry aroma of mango and strawberry after grinding; after sucking, it shows the aroma of mango, pineapple, white flowers, candied fruit sugar, and malt fermentation sweetness.
Nov-24-2023
In short, coffee cupping is a professional and meticulous job that requires certain knowledge and skills. For ordinary consumers, if they have higher requirements for coffee quality, they can try to learn some cupping skills to better select coffee beans and roasting techniques that suit them.
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