Tasting Like: Vanilla, Clean, Lemon Perfume, Blossom Water, Lemon Pound Cake Slice, Tea Like, Geisha Citrus, Creamy Lemon Wafers, Subtle Pleasant Verdant Acidity 

Farm: Kalithea Coffee Estate
Producers: Dr. Constantino Costarangos
Variety: Geisha
Process: Aerobic Fermentation, Washed
Origin: Chiriqui, Panama
Altitude: 1700masl

There's always so much noise around coffees from Panama it can be almost overwhelming at times for both consumer and roasters. Adding to this is the challenge of supply. There's a very limited supply each harvest and costs keep skyrocketing - most notably the bigger Asian market vacuums up such a massive quantity of available crop, it hardly lands in the hands of East Coast consumers. I'm on a side quest to change that at Promethium Coffee, and I'm flexing sourcing skills as your introduction to the coffee of tomorrow with an absolute BOMB Panama Geisha for you all. Say hello to Vanilla Cake, first previewed to those who attended our Comp showcase at iris (I didn't tell you all you were test subjects sorry), she's a classic washed Panama Geisha with a kiss of natural fermentation happening in its field bags prior to its washing. This coffee is so up our ally at Promethium Coffee. She has rich visible complexity across all temperature points the more you explore - all coming from it's Panamanian volcanic soil and the cellular bacteria activity happening in the crop prior to the washing gives what would be a super traditional, and still good, panama geisha so much nuance and interesting characteristics while still maintaining the classic Panama Geisha hallmarks. Excellent sourcing, tasteful preparation, and perfect roasting for an orchestra of beauty in our sensory cups and portafilters - Promethium Coffee. 

A little refresher on Panama's volcanic soil, since everyone likes to throw that out there but no other roasters want to actually take the time to explain why it's so important. It's all about the main mountain, Volcán Barú, Panama's highest peak. Volcán reaches 11,500ft high and sits right at the border of Costa Rica where it overshadows the Chiriquí Highlands - where this coffee and many others are traveling from. Barú isn't really a mountain though, it's geologically young and still technically active volcano. Means the most recent eruption was only half a century ago so the soil is densely packed with still fresh volcanic minerals that haven't had time to wash away unlike older volcanic regions in places like Colombia. The soil is iconically dark, if you follow Lamastus Estates on Instagram, they often showcase their crops where you can see it for yourself. It's almost black like color is from centuries of ash deposits rich in potassium, phosphorus, and other miniscule minerals that coffee trees thrive on. Basically the soil is naturally nicer here than anywhere else on earth. However that's not what makes Panama coffees so special alone. Barú's position creates a sort of microclimate where you can physically see both the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea from the hills. This position gives farms like Kalithea wind patterns and moisture systems from both sides and unique patterns. The constant mist combined with dramatic temperature swings between warm days and cool nights slows cherry development to a snail like pace, concentrating it's natural sugars while maintaining the bright complex acidity that makes Panamanian Geisha so distinctive. Plus, the natural drainage from volcanic soil prevents water damage while that mineral content mentioned provides a range of nutrients that create the regions demand for their harvests. None of the hype around Panama's coffees is really marketing jargon, the terroir truly can't be replicated anywhere else in the world. That being said, of course there's still bad cups and one off poor crops, even from some of the most famous farms in Chiriqui and Bouquet - trust us we've had some you couldn't imagine were so bad from farms you would never guess. This is why cutting through the noise and hype, sourcing meticulously and soundly is so important with incredible origins and varietals. This is just one of the few things you pay us to do, and it is what we are presenting to you here. Enjoy dears.  

Recommended Music to accompany brewing: Max Caster by Westside Gunn

Includes QR code to applicable Tasting Guide™