coffee

For those of you who are following our blog, please forgive the lack of pictures. Unfortunately, we forgot the cable that connects the camera to computers at home. We need to get back to a larger city to get a card reader. So, for the time being, you will have to create your own ´pictures´.


We did not know, before coming to Boquete, that it is famous for its coffee. During the 19th century, farmers from North American and Europe discovered that the cool climate and rich volcanic soil of the province of Chiriqui were perfectly suited for the cultivation of coffee. Since dried beans are relatively nonperishable and easy to ship, coffee quickly surpassed other cash crops, and became an important source of revenue for the area. Panamanian coffee is highly praised for its high caffeine content and acidic, multidimensional flavour.


The biggest coup for the area of Boquete was the emergence of the Gesha coffee variety on the world scene. After winning first place in multiple international cupping competitions, Gesha became the rock star of beans. Originally from Ethiopia, the birthplace of coffee, Gesha is coveted for its light body with citrus and honey notes and jasimine-like aroma. Presently, it it the world´s most expensive coffee and sells for $104 U.S. per pound. The coffee grower who won first place internationally for his Gesha variety can demand over $300 U.S. per pound. We certainly came to the Napa Valley of coffee.

Our coffee tour was at a small independent grower, Mr. Teeto Vargas. His coffee came in second in the area competition, making him a very rich man. When we initially met him, he was printing his own brand on coffee bags with paint and a stencil. He does everything himself. This includes, growing the coffee trees, separating the beans, roasting the beans, a very time-consuming, layered process. We were also very impressed with his reuse of various pieces of equipment, i.e., light fixture containers, welding a screwdriver and spoon to put in the roasters to check the coffee beans as they roast.


We learned that light roasted coffee contains the most caffeine, up to 85 percent. While the medium roasted coffee contained 45 percent caffeine and the dark roasted beans contain approximately 15 percent caffeine. Our guide, had completed a Coffee Program and grew his own coffee beans and roasted them also. He had an entire system of the types of coffee he drank for different times of the day. He used the dark roasted coffee beans in place of decaffineated coffee. Our guide talked about the addictive quality of coffee being the taste, not the caffeine -- very interesting.


In the evening, Boquete, gearing up for its 100th Anniversary had a parade, fireworks and a live band playing downtown.