Panama in the Cup: Turning Terroir, Varieties, and Processing into Meaningful Café Experiences
(Room 24 C)
11 Apr 26
10:00 AM
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10:45 AM
“Panama in the Cup” uses Panama as a living case study for how terroir, varieties, and processing choices can be translated into meaningful experiences at the roastery and in the café. Rather than focusing only on Panama Geisha, this lecture explores the broader ecosystem of Panama’s highlands—regions such as Boquete, Volcán, and Renacimiento—and how their conditions shape cup structure and flavor expression.
We will connect origin-side decisions (farming, selection, and processing) with practical questions at the bar: Which coffees do we highlight? How do we choose brew methods and service formats? How do we communicate value and terroir to guests in a way that is engaging, honest, and accessible?
Throughout the session, we will look at real examples from Panama and break them down into frameworks that can be adapted to any origin. Attendees will leave with concrete ideas for designing origin-focused menus, tasting flights, and education experiences that respect producers, support better pricing, and create long-term value for both cafés and guests.
This lecture uses Panama as a comprehensive case study to offer frameworks that cafés and roasteries anywhere can adapt, regardless of origin. The emphasis is on building origin-driven experiences that respect producers and create sustainable value on both sides of the supply chain.