Why Panama?
Coffee has been grown in Panama since the early 20th century. In the last 20 years, it has gained a reputation as a country that produces extraordinary coffee.
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Today Panama is recognized for producing high-quality coffee that is sought after by roasters, buyers, and competition baristas from around the world.
The mountain highlands of the Chiriquí province provide the perfect conditions for the arabica plant. Perhaps most famously, the mountain town of Boquete is renowned for its quality arabica, thanks in part to its elevation that is between 3000 and 4000 feet.
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The coffee grown in Chiriquí is predominantly exported, while the robusta grown in Panama’s lowland regions is mainly grown for local consumption.
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The country consumes some 20 million kilograms of coffee a year, which works out at roughly five kilograms per capita. This is comparatively high among most producing countries, where consumption is often between one and three kilograms per capita.