Every year, in cooperation with the Specialty Coffee Association of Panama (SCAP), the Best of Panama takes place. This is an online auction for the best coffees of Panama.
After having evaluated the coffee through cupping for the select ion of those coffees that we be included in the auction, the select ed coffees participate and are available in the following link: http://coffee.stoneworks.com.

This year in April, I had the opportunity to participate in the coffee evaluation for the Best of Panama auction that took place 12-14/04 at the head office of the organization in the town Boquete of Panama. Boquete is a small town in an altitude of 1000-1500meters above sea level and is full of flowers. That is why Boquete is known as the town of flowers and coffee or else the town of eternal spring.

During the evaluation of coffees the whole program was very well organized and the coffees were roasted perfectly, revealing all the taste characteristics and floral aromas of the coffees. These continuous cuppings were definitely a unique experience – they lasted 8-9 hours on a daily basis.

For the first time, there were 3 different categories of coffees that we had to evaluate:
-Traditional washed coffees
-Naturals
-Geisha

The final scores on Saturday announced the winning farms that will participate at the online auction.

The last day was completed with the announcement of the positions of the winning coffees with a beautiful celebration.

I had the opportunity to visit three unique farms, the farm Hacienda La Esmeralda from which we buy coffee through the online auction the last 3 years, the Finca Lerida that participated at the Best of Panama in 2009 and from which we had also bought coffee for the Taf Specialty Project, the farm Don Pachi from which we are waiting some exceptional lots and the farm Mama Cata.

These 3 days were definitely a unique experience with exceptional coffees and meetings with roasters, cuppers and coffee people.

I would really like to thank Rachel and her brother who made a tour with me at their farm Hacienda La Esmeralda as well as Francisco Serracin for making a tour at his farm.

I would like to wish good luck to all the farms participating at the Best of Panama!

Yiannis Taloumis