Panama Hacienda La Esmeralda Landrace Natural

A late visit to Panama’s renowned Hacienda La Esmeralda in March 2020 revealed this outstanding coffee. The Peterson family, owners of Hacienda La Esmeralda, are well known for the rediscovery, separation and popularization of Gesha (or Geisha) variety coffee, and in 2012 they purchased a new piece of land to plant an experimental 124-acre farm, Finca El Velo. Although the farm includes plantings of Gesha and Catuaí, the most common varieties grown on Esmeralda’s other farms are tiny lots of other varieties like Laurina, Pacamara, Mocca and SL28, along with over 400 Landrace varieties from Ethiopia obtained from CATIE, the Tropical Agricultural Research Center. Landrace plants are grown from seeds that have not been systematically selected or developed by plant breeders.

El Velo is part of a long-term exploration of the commercial viability of different coffee varieties. There are two garden plots on El Velo, totaling approximately 12 acres, that are dedicated to these Ethiopian Landrace varieties. This year the production was large enough that the harvest from these varied heirloom varieties were combined into one delicious, floral-toned lot.

Finca El Velo is planted up to elevations of near 6,250 feet, but the property continues up the mountain all the way to 9,500 feet above sea level, where there is a protected nature reserve that is home to endangered species including the famous Quetzal. The Peterson family has owned and operated Hacienda La Esmeralda since 1967.

We treasure our relationships in the global coffee community and invest in projects at origin to support our partners in their commitment to environmental sustainability and social welfare. We also invest in reducing our day-to-day impact, through initiatives like energy-efficient Loring Smart Roasters to reduce carbon emissions per batch by 80%.

As a certified B Corporation, we are a leader in sustainable practices that impact people and the planet. This third-party certification requires us to demonstrate transparency and accountability throughout our supply chain and quantify the impact our business creates for our employees, the community, and the environment. We are proud to be part of this community working together toward one unifying goal: using business as a force for good.