Best of Panama
Why You Should Care About “Best of Panama” Coffee ☕✨
If you usually grab your morning cup without thinking twice, let me tell you about something that changed how I see coffee forever: Best of Panama.
This isn’t just another fancy name or hipster trend—it’s basically the World Cup of Coffee. Every year, Panama hosts a competition where farmers bring their very best beans. International judges taste them blind, scoring on flavor, aroma, sweetness, acidity, and aftertaste. Only the most extraordinary coffees make it through, and the winning lots are auctioned off at jaw-dropping prices (sometimes hundreds of dollars per pound!).
What Makes It Special?
The Geisha Variety 🌸
Heard of “Geisha” coffee? This delicate variety, grown mostly in Panama’s Boquete and Volcán regions, is like the champagne of the coffee world. Expect notes of jasmine, bergamot, peach, even tropical fruits—it’s tea-like, floral, and nothing like the dark, bitter brew we usually gulp down half-asleep.
Crazy Attention to Detail 🔍
Farmers competing in Best of Panama experiment with soil, altitude, processing (like natural, honey, washed), and even fermentation techniques. It’s like fine winemaking—but with coffee cherries.
A Taste Experience, Not Just a Drink 🍑🌺
Imagine sipping coffee that tastes like peach and jasmine instead of burnt toast. It’s not an everyday cup (your wallet would scream), but once you try it, you’ll never forget it.
Why Should You Care (as a Normal Coffee Drinker)?
Because it opens your eyes to what coffee can be. Most of us drink coffee for energy. Best of Panama shows that coffee can be:
Complex like wine – with layers of flavors unfolding sip by sip.
A farmer’s art form – every winning lot is years of passion, skill, and innovation.
A global benchmark – roasters and cafes worldwide chase these beans, shaping trends that trickle down to the blends you buy at your local shop.
Even if you never buy a $100 cup, trying a Best of Panama winner once is like tasting a Grand Cru wine: it raises your standards forever.
How to Try It Without Going Broke
Look for sample sets when roasters import Best of Panama lots. They often sell small 50–100g bags.
Visit specialty cafes during auction season (July–August)—many do limited tastings.
If you’re in the U.S., check roasters like Proud Mary, Onyx, or George Howell, which often showcase these beans.
Final Sip ☕
As someone who once thought coffee was just “strong or weak,” discovering Best of Panama was like going from fast food to Michelin dining. You don’t need it every day—but just knowing this world exists makes your everyday cup more meaningful.
So next time you sip your regular latte, just remember: out there, in the misty highlands of Panama, a farmer is crafting a coffee that can taste like jasmine and peaches. And that, to me, is pure magic.
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