Coffee of the Month: Genius Loci (Panama)

Cupping Notes: 

Persicum, Citrus Mandarina, Nux, Aciditas Clara

(Peach, Mandarin, Nutty, Bright)

Roast Level:  Medium/Light

• Origin: Jaramillo Abajo, Boquete, Chiriquí, Panama
• Producers: Finca Isabel
• Process: Washed
• Altitude: 1400-1800 MASL
• Variety: Caturra, Catuai, Typica, Bourbon
• Soil: Volcanic Loam

The Romans believed every place possessed its own genius loci—a protective spirit that shaped everything growing there. Ancient farmers knew better than to fight their genius loci; they worked with it, adapting their methods to what each specific plot demanded. Revolutionary concept, really.

Fast-forward a couple millennia, and the folks at Finca Isabel have apparently been channeling their inner Roman agronomist. Across 500 meticulously managed acres, they've divided their land into distinct plots, planting specific varieties based on micro-climates and landscape features. Some sections favor the bright complexity of Caturra at higher elevations, while others nurture the fuller body of Bourbon in protected valleys. It's terroir-driven farming that would make Columella weep with agricultural joy.

This October, we're celebrating what happens when generations of coffee knowledge meet volcanic soil and mountain air. Each cup delivers the bright, peachy sweetness of high-altitude cherries, balanced by the nutty richness that comes from careful fermentation and the mineral backbone that only volcanic loam can provide. The mandarin acidity sparkles like morning light on the Chiriquí peaks, while the overall brightness speaks to cherries picked at perfect ripeness and processed with obsessive attention to detail.

As our namesake noted, "Nothing is so unbelievable that oratory cannot make it acceptable"—but sometimes the truth needs no embellishment. When you respect the genius of your place and honor the wisdom passed down through generations, excellence follows naturally.

Carpe caffeum loci.