Panama - Finca El Pergamino, Geisha Washed

Tucked into the misty highlands of Alto Guerra in Bambito, Panama, Finca El Pergamino stands as a quiet yet powerful testament to what careful stewardship of land and tradition can produce. This high-elevation farm, sitting between 1,800 and 2,000 meters above sea level, is owned and operated by Yaneth De Lucich, a dedicated producer who has shaped the farm into a place where both nature and quality thrive in harmony.

The farm's environment is ideal for specialty coffee cultivation. Nestled in rich volcanic soil and surrounded by dense forest, Finca El Pergamino benefits from the cool, humid microclimate that slows the maturation of coffee cherries. This extended growing cycle contributes to the complexity and depth of the cup profile, particularly crucial when cultivating delicate, high-value varieties like Geisha.

At Finca El Pergamino, coffee is grown with purpose and precision. The Geisha variety, renowned worldwide for its floral aromas, jasmine notes, and tea-like body, is given special care throughout every stage of production. During harvest, only the ripest cherries are handpicked, a labor-intensive practice that ensures uniformity and flavor integrity.

The coffee is then processed using the washed method—a traditional and clean approach that suits the elegant character of Geisha. After depulping, the beans are fermented to remove the mucilage and then thoroughly washed with fresh mountain water. The drying process is slow and controlled, allowing the beans to stabilize and develop a balanced profile that reflects both the terroir and the variety.

More than just a coffee farm, Finca El Pergamino represents a deep connection to land, legacy, and quality. Under Yaneth De Lucich’s care, it has become a source of exceptional coffee and a model for sustainable, high-altitude farming in Panama’s Chiriquí region.

Panama Geisha is a rare, delicate, and complex variety well-loved for its sweet florality and citrus highlights. Since its debut win at the Best of Panama auction in 2004, it has kept specialty coffee lovers everywhere captivated by its endless possibilities, delicacy, complexity, and clarity of flavors.

As such, it is often showcased on coffee competition stages by a great number of coffee champions, and it also continues to fetch the highest prices.

While a coffee’s truest intrinsic qualities are still largely believed to be showcased best by traditional washed processing due to the demucilaging, washing, and scrubbing steps removing all traces of fruit from the bean, the expertise of seasoned and passionate producers like Yaneth De Lucich allows them to direct the flavor character of the Panama Geisha towards a seemingly endless diversity of delightfully surprising trajectories.

They do this through the purposeful implementation of traditional methods like the natural and honey processes, as well as intentional and innovative processing styles.