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Panama Elida Estate
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April 2008 issue - Highest rated coffee |
When Elida Estate coffee was entered in the Best of Panama 2007 Competition it ranked 3rd and received a score of 90.74. It was the #1 non-geisha coffee in the competition.
There were a total of 19 fifty-pound bags in the auction lot. This coffee is not the actual winning auction lot of coffee of which only 850 pounds were available. However, it is the same coffee, same varietals, same mountains, just not the hand-selected small amount that was entered in the competition. We would say we like this particular lot as much as we did the actual auction winner. In short, at nearly half the price, this coffee is a terrific value.
We led the buying
group that successfully won the bidding of the auctual auction lot; our share was six bags-300 pounds.
 Elida
Estate is located in the Volcan Baru National Park near Boquete. The farm is
about 65 hectares (160 acres), 30 of which areplanted with coffee trees; it
produces about 400 60 kg .bags annually. Elida coffee is grown at an altitude
of between 5500 and 6000 feet above sea level, the highest level at which coffee
is grown in Panama. In fact, Elida is one of the two highest coffee farms in
Panama. Varietals grown are catuai and bourbon, with some geisha planted within
the past few years. The auction lot is 100% catuai. Elida is washed coffee and
it is sun dried. The farm has been owned by the Lamastus family since 1918.
When we were in Panama in April, serving as judges at the Best of Panama competition,
Wilford Lamastus, the present caretaker, gave us a tour of his family's farm.
It was amazing that in mid April trees at the highest elevations still had coffee
cherries yet to be picked!
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Bob, Wilford Lamastus owner of Elida
center, Barry
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Wilford Lamastus upon hearing of his
winning coffee at awards presentation
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Cupping Characteristics: As with the actual auction-winning lot, this lot offers much the same in cup quality. First impressions of Elida are a delicate,
floral aroma in both ground and brewed forms. In the cup, it is very bright,
with piquant acidity and fruity, melon-like sweetness with hints of chocolate
and berries. It has medium/heavy body with a long, very smooth finish. This
is truly an extraordinary and satisfying cup.
Quantity in Basket:none
Price per pound : $11.99
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