Panama has long been celebrated as one of the world’s most prestigious coffee origins, producing some of the highest-scoring lots ever sold at auction. Regions like Boquete and Cerro Punta are home to historic estates such as Hacienda La Esmeralda and Elida Estate, where the now-iconic Geisha variety first rose to international prominence. These farms have built Panama’s reputation for excellence and continue to shape the specialty coffee industry worldwide.
Yet even in a landscape so steeped in tradition, there is always room for innovation. In recent years, a new wave of producers has emerged, bringing fresh ideas, sustainable practices, and boundary-pushing processing methods to this celebrated coffee-growing region. These farms may not have decades of history behind them, but they have quickly earned recognition for their exceptional quality and vision for the future.
Here, we highlight four of these rising stars of coffee from Panama—producers who are proving that the next great coffee story is always just beginning.
Los Cenizos: Coffee in the Clouds of Cerro Punta
Empowering communities through innovation and slow-ripening, high-altitude Geisha.
High in the mountains of Cerro Punta, Los Cenizos is a family-owned farm that has become a quiet force in the world of specialty coffee. Founded in 2008, Los Cenizos takes its name from the century-old ash trees that provide natural shade to its groves. At elevations above 1,800 meters, the farm benefits from a unique microclimate that prolongs the ripening of coffee cherries. This slow maturation results in remarkable sweetness and complexity—particularly in their celebrated Geisha lots.
The farm is deeply connected to its surrounding community. Ninety-nine percent of its workforce is Ngäbe-Buglé, Panama’s largest Indigenous group, and the team receives ongoing training in advanced agricultural practices to build skill and stability. Estela Pitti, who leads sales and marketing, exemplifies the farm’s focus on women in leadership roles.
Los Cenizos has drawn the attention of top specialty roasters for its distinctive flavor profiles and commitment to quality. Beyond producing outstanding coffee, the farm actively shares its processing knowledge with neighboring producers, fostering collaboration in a competitive landscape.
Los Cenizos reminds us that innovation doesn’t have to come at the expense of tradition—it can thrive in harmony with community, nature, and heritage.
Mount Totumas: Where Coffee Meets Conservation
Blending exceptional coffee with bold environmental stewardship.
At Mount Totumas, coffee is more than a crop—it’s part of a living ecosystem. Located in the cloud forests of Tierras Altas, this project began in 2008 with the transformation of former cow pastures into lush, shaded coffee groves. Today, it sits alongside a 140-hectare private nature preserve, seamlessly combining conservation and coffee production.
From the very start, Mount Totumas has embraced an ecology-first approach. Thirty hectares have been carefully reforested with native shade trees, which support natural pollination and wildlife diversity. This biodiversity isn’t just good for the planet—it directly contributes to the complexity of the coffees grown here. The farm’s dual focus on cultivation and preservation has made it a model for sustainable agriculture in Panama.
The world has taken notice. Mount Totumas stunned the specialty coffee community by winning 1st place in the 2023 Best of Panama competition for its Geisha Natural, followed by 6th place in 2024. Their named experimental lots, like the ethereal “Milky Way,” showcase both technical precision and a deep connection to the land.
By inviting visitors to stay at their eco-lodge and experience the farm firsthand, Mount Totumas demonstrates how coffee and conservation can thrive together, creating a vision of sustainability that feels both urgent and hopeful.
Agricola Geisha: A Family Dream Turned Global Success
Family-driven innovation with a fast rise to international acclaim.
The story of Agricola Geisha, also known by its brand Doña Elvira, begins with a retirement dream. Founders Gonzalo and Yrma (Irma) Palenzuela envisioned a quiet family project in the coffee hills of Boquete. Instead, their vision quickly grew into a multi-generational enterprise that has earned a place among Panama’s most exciting producers.
Incredibly, Agricola Geisha achieved a Best of Panama finalist placement in just its second year of production, an extraordinary feat that speaks to both passion and skill. The farm’s shade-grown coffee thrives among plantain and avocado trees, benefiting from natural fertilizers and traditional sun-drying methods that minimize environmental impact.
With farms stretching across altitudes from 1,350 to 2,100 meters overlooking the volcanic slopes of Volcán Barú, Agricola Geisha is perfectly positioned to explore new varietals and processing techniques. Their focus on Geisha, Pacamara, and Paca varieties, along with a Catuai project in development, reflects a balance of innovation and heritage.
What sets Agricola Geisha apart is its deeply personal approach: every member of the family plays a role in production, and women are central to its leadership and growth. Their meteoric rise proves that passion and dedication can rival decades of history, reshaping the global conversation about coffee from Panama.
Hacienda Bajo Mono: Honoring a Century of Legacy
Where heritage meets bold experimentation at the foot of Volcán Barú.
Though its current chapter began in 2011, Hacienda Bajo Mono, also known as Don Benjie, carries a legacy stretching back over a century. The de Dianous family has been involved in coffee since 1914, and today, José Benjamin de Dianous G. and Stefan Arwed Müller are leading the farm into a new era of experimentation and excellence.
Situated on 33 hectares of volcanic soil at the base of Volcán Barú, the estate is bordered by the pristine Caldera River and wrapped in the region’s famous “Bajareque” mist. These conditions create an environment ideal for cultivating a diverse range of varieties, from traditional Typica and Bourbon to more adventurous Kenya SL and Pacamara plants.
But what truly distinguishes Don Benjie is its willingness to push the boundaries of coffee processing. By embracing methods like carbonic maceration and native-yeast fermentations, the team has produced unique, memorable lots. Their efforts were recognized with 3rd place in the Best of Panama Traditional Natural category, awarded for a stunning Maragogipe Carbonic Maceration lot.
Don Benjie is a testament to how heritage and innovation can exist side by side, honoring the past while fearlessly pursuing the future.
The Future of Coffee in Panama
These four farms may be newcomers compared to Panama’s most storied estates, but they each embody a different facet of the country’s dynamic specialty coffee landscape. Los Cenizos uplifts its community while championing slow-ripening, high-altitude Geisha. Mount Totumas shows how coffee cultivation and environmental preservation can grow together. Agricola Geisha blends family tradition with rapid innovation, proving that new voices can rise to international acclaim. And Don Benjie demonstrates how a historic family estate can reinvent itself through bold, experimental practices.
As Panama continues to set the standard for excellence in specialty coffee, these producers remind us that the next chapter is already being written—one harvest, one lot, and one visionary idea at a time. Look out for new Bean & Bean coffees from these innovative new farms next year and for now, explore our current Panama Collection!
Interested in coffee from Panama? Learn more about the history of this outstanding origin in our blog post about Hacienda La Esmeralda, one of the most celebrated coffee farms in Panama! Esmeralda just made history by being the first farm to sweep all three major categories in the annual Best of Panama competition. Find out how they did it.
