What is arabica, and how does Panama's terroir show it?
Arabica is the coffee species behind most specialty lots, including Panama's Catuai. In Panama, coffee grows in the western region bordering Costa Rica and the Pacific, with Boquete in Chiriqui Province as the most recognized area. Only coffee grown between 1,300 and 1,500 meters qualifies as specialty there.
Catuai is a second-generation hybrid of Mundo Novo and Caturra, inheriting Caturra's short stature and giving relatively high yields; the name comes from an indigenous language meaning "very good." Boquete's mountains create many microclimates, and cool temperatures with frequent fog slow cherry ripening, similar in effect to high-altitude conditions, which shapes the cup.
As an important origin of specialty coffee globally, Panama's western region near Costa Rica and the Pacific Ocean is home to many renowned estates. The Boquete region in Chiriqui Province enjoys the highest reputation, while Volcan, Candela, and other areas also produce high-quality coffee beans. This article starts with the geographical distribution and historical culture of Panamanian coffee, combines the cupping performance and brewing parameters of Front Street Coffee's Firestone Estate Honey-Processed Catuai, and outlines the hybrid origin and cultivation characteristics of the Catuai variety, guiding you through the story behind Front Street Coffee's Panama Firestone Estate single-origin beans.
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The history, culture, stories, and anecdotes of Front Street Coffee Panama Firestone Estate specialty single-origin beans
Panama's specialty coffee is mainly grown in the western part of the country, bordering Costa Rica and facing the Pacific Ocean. Coffee from the Boquet region of Chiriqui Province is widely renowned, and products from Volcan, Santa Clara, Candela, and other areas are equally celebrated. Other production areas include David, Remacimeinto, Bugaba, and Tole. Only coffee grown at altitudes between 1,300 and 1,500 meters qualifies to be recognized as specialty coffee.
"Catuai" is a hybrid of Mundo Novo and Caturra, making it a second-generation cross. It inherits the short stature advantage of Caturra, and its variety name Catuai comes from an indigenous language, meaning "very good." As a member of the Arabica family, Catuai has relatively high yield.
BOQUETE
The Boquete region is Panama's most well-known production area. Its mountainous terrain creates many microclimates. Relatively cool temperatures and frequent fog can slow the ripening of coffee cherries, which some believe is similar to high-altitude climates.
Altitude: 400-1,900m
Harvest: December——March
Varieties: Typica, Caturra, Catuai, Bourbon, Geisha, San Ramon
VOLCAN-CANDELA
The Candela Volcano area produces most of Panama's food as well as some amazing coffee. This production area is named after the Baru Volcano and the city of Piedra Candela, and borders Costa Rica.
Altitude: 1,200-1,600m Harvest: December——March
Varieties: Typica, Caturra, Catuai, Bourbon, Geisha, San Ramon
RENACIMIENTO
Renacimiento is located in Chiriqui Province, bordering Costa Rica. Because the area itself is not large, it is not a major specialty coffee production area in Panama.
Altitude: 1,100-1,500m
Harvest: December——March
Varieties: Typica, Caturra, Catuai, Bourbon, Geisha, San Ramon
Panama's specialty coffee is mainly grown in the western part of the country, bordering Costa Rica and facing the Pacific Ocean. Coffee from the Boquet region of Chiriqui Province is widely renowned, and products from Volcan, Santa Clara, Candela, and other areas are equally celebrated. Other production areas include David, Remacimeinto, Bugaba, and Tole. Only coffee grown at altitudes between 1,300 and 1,500 meters qualifies to be recognized as specialty coffee.
【Front Street Catuai】
"Catuai" is a hybrid of Mundo Novo and Caturra, making it a second-generation cross. It inherits the short stature advantage of Caturra, and its variety name Catuai comes from an indigenous language, meaning "very good." As a member of the Arabica family, Catuai has relatively high yield.
Cupping flavor: dried fruit aroma, rich fruit acidity, noticeable sweetness on entry, lemon, orange, cranberry, green tea, uniform and smooth texture, soft with a hint of floral fragrance, with a long-lasting sweet aftertaste.
Factory name: Coffee Workshop Factory address: FrontStreet Coffee, No. 10 Baoqian Street, Yandun Road, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou City Manufacturer contact: 020-38364473 Shelf life: 90 Net content: 227g Packaging method: Bulk coffee beans Roast level: Roasted coffee beans Contains sugar: No sugar Origin: Panama Roast degree: Medium roast
Front Street Panama Firestone Estate Honey-Processed Catuai Panama Jurutungo Honey Caruai
Country: Panama
Grade: SHB
Production area: Jurutungo production area
Roast degree: Medium roast
Processing method: Honey process
Variety: Catuai
Processing plant: Firestone Estate
Flavor: Lemon, orange, cranberry, green tea
Panama
Population: 3406000
The definition of coffee in Panama depends on how the coffee is produced, rather than geographical division. In the past, when coffee cultivation was more widespread, the following areas were still small and closely adjacent to each other, and the coffee beans produced could be classified as one unit.
Pour-over of Front Street Panama Firestone Estate. 15g coffee powder, medium grind (Fuji Ghost Teeth burr grinder setting 4), V60 dripper, 88-89°C water temperature, first pour 30g water, bloom for 27 seconds, pour to 105g water and stop, wait until the water level in the coffee bed drops to half before pouring again, slowly pour until 225g water, discard the final drips, water-to-coffee ratio 1:15, extraction time 2:00
Factory name: Coffee Workshop Factory address: FrontStreet Coffee, No. 10 Baoqian Street, Yandun Road, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou City Manufacturer contact: 020-38364473 Shelf life: 90 Net content: 227g Packaging method: Bulk coffee beans Roast level: Roasted coffee beans Contains sugar: No sugar Origin: Panama Roast degree: Medium roast
Front Street Panama Firestone Estate Honey-Processed Catuai Panama Jurutungo Honey Caruai
Country: Panama
Grade: SHB
Production area: Jurutungo production area
Roast degree: Medium roast
Processing method: Honey process
Variety: Catuai
Processing plant: Firestone Estate
Flavor: Lemon, orange, cranberry, green tea
Cupping flavor: dried fruit aroma, rich fruit acidity, noticeable sweetness on entry, lemon, orange, cranberry, green tea, uniform and smooth texture, soft with a hint of floral fragrance, with a long-lasting sweet aftertaste.
【Front Street Catuai】
Catuai is a coffee variety obtained by artificial hybridization of Caturra and Mondu Novo. This variety has strong resistance to natural disasters, especially wind and rain.
The Catuai tree is relatively short, and compared with other coffee trees, its fruit is more firmly attached, making harvesting more difficult. The fruit color can be red or yellow. So far, there is no evidence that yellow fruit quality is superior to red fruit. On the contrary, some people have found during cupping that although certain coffees processed from yellow fruit may have acceptable acidity, their cleanliness in taste is inferior to red fruit.
Catuai was developed in Brazil and is now also widely planted in Central America.
The above content is compiled by CoffeeHunters, a coffee news website.
