Panama Altieri Geisha Natural 'Chombi'

Arrived by air early July 2023. Following our farm visit and cupping in May we bought this very small lot on the spot. The quantity is tiny and we will have only about 30 roasted pounds available. This coffee from Panama has a quite different story than we are used to hearing. The farm is owned by Gene Altieri, a native New Yorker who has lived and worked in Panama for the past 45 years and has now involved his adult children in running the coffee business. While Gene had his hands in a number of businesses, he struck success with his two coffee farms, earning him placement as the 5th place winner in this year's Best of Panama competition, held just two weeks after our visit and purchase of this coffee.

The processing of this Natural coffee is unusual and contributes to its distinct flavor profile. It is called a Dry Fermentation Process and the following are details of the method. The coffee fruit was handpicked, ensuring the full ripeness of the cherries. After harvesting, it was taken to the drying area and stayed overnight in the harvest bags. In the morning, the cherries underwent a flotation process as the first selection of beans, and then they were placed on raised African beds inside a drying greenhouse for approximately 5 days. Afterwards, they were transferred to Grainpro bags and left in the shade for a fermentation process lasting 4 days. After this time, the drying of this lot was completed in a refrigerated drying chamber at our facilities in Alto Lino Boquete and the drying period lasted for 30 days, alternating forced ventilation with dehumidifiers at a temperature of 18 degrees Celsius (65 degrees Fahrenheit) . Finally the coffee was moved to the Altieri storage warehouse, where it remained at a constant temperature of 18 degrees Celsius with an average relative humidity of 55% until ready to ship to us.

Altieri has two farms in the Boquete region, one at a slightly lower altitude of 1350 meters above sea level and a higher elevation farm at 2000 meters where this lot of geisha coffee comes from. The varietals produced are criollo, caturra, catuai, catimor and geisha. Upon first acquiring the farm Gene followed the ordinary practices of farming but after learning more about coffee production as the years passed, he began focusing on improving existing practices along with the living conditions of the many people involved in the coffee's production. Gene has a big family with lots of grandchildren and each individual plot of land on the Altieri Coffee Farm is now nicknamed for one of the children. The lot is called CHOMBI and at is at 1800 meters on the larger parcel called Mimi state.

We have been tasting Altieri's coffees for years and it is quite apparent how much the quality has improved over time. The coffee being produced has really come up to the top level as evidenced by their recent 5th place win and this terrific coffee. The investment that Altieri has made in farm management, equipment, and a study of cutting edge processing practices are really paying off in the cup.

It's obvious that Gene and his team have a deep rooted passion not only for the quality of coffee being produced, but also for the dedicated farmers who make that success possible. It's an honor to be able to acquire this coffee knowing that the effort and hard work that is put into growing it extends to the lives of the ones who deserve it the most. Kudos go to the Altieri family and the farm workers who contributed to this fine coffee.

Cup Characteristics: Very floral with notable additional process flavors. Powerful but balanced and lots of berry notes, particularly blackberry. Sweetly floral layers of jasmine, turbinado sugar and vanilla bean.