C61: 

Farm/Producer: Vista Hermosa, Lujan Family

Region: Panama, Boquete, Chiriqui 

Process: Natural

Altitude: 1300 masl

Variety: Catuai

Cup Profile: Papaya, Red Grape, Marie Biscuit

We’re particularly excited to showcase this lot from Mr. Luján in Boquete, Panama. A producer whose story perfectly aligns with our values of community and connection. One of the things we love most about sourcing coffees like this is the opportunity to discover new farms and independent farmers who are quietly producing exceptional coffees on a small scale. Working with such a small, family-run operation makes this coffee all the more special.

Mr. Luján began growing coffee in 2010 after more than three decades in the retail grocery industry, where he founded and managed three grocery companies. Today, he manages two small farms in Boquete with his wife: Vista Hermosa and Tierra de Dios. Between the two farms, nine people are employed year-round, five of whom attend the local university, a reflection of his commitment to education and opportunity. Housing is provided for all full-time employees and their families.

After selective handpicking, the cherries are sundried for 3–4 weeks and then rested for 2.5 months before milling. The coffee is stored in temperature-controlled warehouses and dehusked just before export, preserving all of its tropical character and depth.

In the cup, this natural process shines with tropical fruit intensity and vibrant sweetness. On espresso, we picked up notes of papaya and red grape, giving the cup a juicy, fruit-forward profile. That red grape note carries through on filter, where some of us also found a subtle raisin-like sweetness. In milk, it transforms into something comforting and familiar think of Marie Biscuits with a gentle, rounded sweetness.