A red apple in caramel, buttery caramel, and a dash of amaretto, paired with a juicy mandarin orange. Panama FINCA ESTHER from Ovni Coffee is reminiscent of a dessert that also features fresh fruit. Liqueur-like notes blend with a pronounced sweetness, while a citrus undertone pleasantly lightens the overall profile. This coffee is a delight when you’re craving something sweet and a little unexpected, but don’t want to lose that spark.
The beans were grown on the Finca Esther farm on the slopes of the Volcán Barú volcano in the Boquete region of Chiriquí, at an elevation of approximately 1, 550 meters above sea level. The volcanic soil here is complemented by a cool mountain climate and diverse natural surroundings. The farm is part of the Mas Café Panama project, founded in 2002 by Esther Leung and Martin Santos Chavez. At a time when many growers were abandoning their land, they began buying neglected farms and restoring both the coffee trees and the surrounding landscape. In doing so, they combine coffee cultivation with the protection of native vegetation and wildlife.
This lot consists of the SL34 variety, which is primarily associated with East Africa and remains uncommon in Panama. It is processed using the natural method, in which the beans dry inside whole cherries. First, fully ripe fruits are harvested, and unripe or damaged ones are removed. This is followed by wet sorting, which helps eliminate the remaining less dense fruits and defects. The selected cherries are spread out on raised beds and dried in the sun for approximately 28 days. Once they reach the desired moisture content, the coffee is left to rest in storage. Only then are the beans removed from their dried husks and carefully sorted again.
- Producer: Esther Leung & Martin Santos Chavez
- Elevation: 1,550 m above sea level