730 Panama Bambito Estate Yellow Catuai

＜Bambito Estate＞

The Bambito Estate was established in 1945. Since its founding, the farm has remained committed above all to producing better coffee, and for nearly 80 years, that philosophy has been passed down through the family. Today, the fourth and fifth generations continue to carry on this legacy, making Bambito Estate one of Panama’s highly regarded specialty coffee farms.

The farm is located in Bambito, Chiriquí, Panama, at an elevation of 1,660–1,850 meters above sea level, in a cool mountainous region surrounded by two national forest parks. A ridge runs through the center of the farm, creating two distinct microclimates within the same estate. The ridge also protects the coffee trees from the strong northern winds that blow during the summer, allowing the cherries to mature slowly and develop complex sweetness and beautiful acidity. It feels as though nature itself is the finest piece of equipment this farm has.

At Bambito Estate, producing high-quality coffee and protecting the natural environment are considered inseparable. After harvesting, the cherries are pulped and the mucilage is removed before being primarily sun-dried until they reach the ideal moisture level. The coffee pulp generated during processing is not discarded. Instead, it is turned into organic fertilizer. After several months of slow composting, the fertilizer is returned to the coffee trees, helping to enrich the soil.

The farm also has greenhouses and a cupping room, allowing the team to carefully manage everything from seedling cultivation to quality control. We believe that this commitment to taking care of every small detail is what enables the farm to consistently produce delicious coffee year after year.

Bambito Estate cares about more than just coffee. During the harvest season, many local families work on the farm, supporting coffee production together with the local community. The farm also provides breakfast to a nearby elementary school and hosts an annual Christmas gathering where local residents are invited to come together and celebrate.

There is a natural sense of community rooted in the philosophy that great coffee is nurtured by both a rich natural environment and the people who live and work there.

This coffee was one of the memorable discoveries we encountered in the cupping room at Bambito Estate.

It offers a vibrant fruit character reminiscent of berries, dried fruits, and tropical fruits. It is the kind of coffee that makes you spontaneously say, “This is delicious,” while cupping—a coffee that captures so much of what makes Bambito Estate special.

We chose a light roast to fully bring out its vivid fruit character.

At first, we approached the roast in a similar way to the 731 Washed, taking a little more time to develop a clean and refined cup. That profile was certainly delicious, but when we tasted it, we felt that something was missing. We remembered the coffee we had tasted at the farm and thought, “The fruit character was much more vibrant when we drank it there.”

From there, we adjusted the roast. By increasing the energy slightly during the early stages of roasting, we were able to bring the coffee’s bright and lively fruit character further to the forefront.

We recommend allowing the coffee to rest for around two to three weeks after roasting. With additional aging, the acidity becomes cleaner and the finish more refined.

When hot, the cup offers red fruit notes reminiscent of red cherries, accompanied by a tropical nuance similar to papaya. As the temperature cools, the profile gradually changes, revealing a deeper, more mellow sweetness reminiscent of apple honey, raisins, and hazelnuts.

Despite being lightly roasted, the coffee has a pleasant weight and viscosity, with a smooth, silky mouthfeel that is another one of its distinctive qualities.

This Bambito Estate offers a vibrant fruit character and sweetness that is distinctly different from the clean clarity of the Washed process. Because both coffees come from the same estate, there are similarities that connect them, while each also expresses its own unique personality.

We hope you will enjoy tasting the two side by side and discovering the different expressions of Bambito Estate.