MEL - Lérida {Filter} | Panama - Washed - Catuai

Mel Coffee Roasters is located in Osaka, Japan

From MEL

The Boquete region, located along the border with Costa Rica, is the country's most renowned area for coffee production. Flourishing in floriculture and blessed with a favorable climate, the region has seen a recent rise in tourism from Europe and the United States; consequently, some coffee estates—such as Finca Lerida—now feature on-site hotels or lodges. However, increasing residential development in the area has recently created an environment that is becoming challenging for coffee cultivation. Panama's total coffee output is said to be equivalent to just one month's production in Costa Rica; given this limited volume, the country's recent trend has been to compete on the basis of distinctiveness and quality—focusing on specific varieties, processing methods, and "micro-lots." Finca Lerida is one of the highest-altitude estates in Panama and boasts an exceptional production environment; industry insiders have long maintained that it would be impossible *not* to produce superb coffee there. The estate won the prestigious "Best of Panama" competition in 2001 and subsequently earned recognition as a producer of high-quality coffee through multiple award-winning performances. However, in the late 2000s, management issues led to a decline in quality, and the estate disappeared from the market. A new owner took over in 2011, bringing in agricultural experts to establish a new production system and renovating the on-site hotel and restaurant. The estate is divided into distinct lots, each defined by unique microclimates and environmental conditions. Leveraging its distinctive climate and topography, Finca Lerida cultivates a variety of Arabica coffees that exhibit outstanding cup characteristics—including aroma, flavor, acidity, and body.