mie

i'm writing post the awards ceremony from the best of panama (BOP) 2009. i came to panama city late tuesday night and boquete the day after - first flight wednesday morning from panama city to davíd and spent the day cupping samples with josé david garrido. we've been cupping the mama cata farm samples quite rigorously this season and have already committed to a very nice "fully washed" lot - a blend of caturra, villa sarchi, bourbon and typica picked in the beginning of march. i need to note that what they call "fully washed" locally is what i feel is better explained as a mechanical wet process. we have previously bought his honey processed geisha - there's a lot to say about the various processing methods that are experimented with here in panama right now and there were many discussions about the subject. all the judges were asked to cup one table with only naturals when the BOP cuppings were over and asked to give feedback to the farmers.

the official BOP cuppings lasted for three days - and we had some very interesting methodological and existential questions brought up, like mentioned about the naturals. top two coffees were geishas, and we also cupped a very nice third place winning pacamara. winner of the competition this year was the esmeralda farm here in boquete, who has their own geisha auction scheduled for may 19th.

i did a small collage of my essential needs on coffee trips : shoulder bag big enough to fit all the important things you want to bring - samples, green converses and gowns (for awards ceremonies). and of course my aeropress ! i just love it !! upcoming world aeropress championship is announced at the wendelblog. i'm heading to honduras tomorrow to cup some coffees there as well, but i'm hoping for a chic lunch in panama city on my way from one airport to the other.