ORIGIN INFO
The Farm:
The Terroir:
The Elida Estate farm is located in the Volcán Barú National Park (VBNP), a protected ecological reserve and conservation area for exotic plants and birds. The farm has a total of 65 hectares, of which 40 hectares are planted with Catuai, Geisha and some Typica; the rest is private forest reserve or within the VBNP. The coffees are produced in a unique climate, soil and location. The farm is located at a very high altitude (one of the highest coffee farms in Panama) between the Caribbean Sea (35 km to the north) and the Pacific Ocean (55 km to the south).
Coffee is grown in rich, young volcanic soils at low temperatures. An abundance of fog and mist during the ripening season prolongs the process, allowing the exotic characteristics of the Geisha cherries to develop to their full potential. The coffee trees are surrounded by pristine rainforest, which is home to many beneficial micro-organisms such as yeasts, bacteria, etc.
Nights at the lower end of coffee's temperature tolerance allow the trees to produce for up to 6 ½ years (2-4 years longer than average) and extend the ripening period by a month, which is reflected in the development of the bean's rich flavour profile. All of these unique growing conditions result in a superior cup.
The Producer:
Lamastus Family Estates
For four generations, dating back to 1918, the Lamastus family has dedicated themselves to coffee production at Elida Estate. The unique ecological conditions under which Elida Estate coffees are cultivated set them apart: embracing shade grown practices, fostering a bird friendly environment, situated at a lofty altitude with a microclimate featuring notably low temperatures. Moreover, the coffee trees are enveloped by the pristine Volcan Baru National Park, surrounded by a virgin native rainforest.
Around the dawn of the 21st century, Robert Lamastus initiated the cultivation of Arabica coffee on a plantation nestled at approximately 1700 meters above sea level, situated on the slopes of the Baru volcano in Boquete, Panama. Back then, he meticulously processed and exported a coffee that persists as one of the globe's premier quality offerings. Fast forward three generations, and the Lamastus family proudly upholds this legacy, persistently crafting, processing, and exporting their distinct estate coffees.