Elida Estate - Washed Gesha Lot C

MEET THE PRODUCER | For four generations and over a hundred years, the Lamastus family has made its passion for coffee a bonafide family tradition. What started with a man named Robert Lamastus in 1918 has catapulted to an innumerable amount of awards, prizes, and accolades under the leadership of his grandson, Wilford Lamastus, Sr., and his great-grandson, Wilford Jr.

Founded by Robert in 1918, Elida Estate is the flagship farm in the Lamastus fleet, and it is perhaps the most well-known of their impressive fleet. The estate is located in the southernmost coffee-growing region of Panama, and part of it sits inside the Baru Volcano National Park (BVNP). This location is important for a few reasons: first, because of its protected status within BVNP, coffees being produced at Elida Estate come from some of the most undisturbed farmland in all of Panama. It is surrounded by native, cloudy rainforest, and the crop benefits tremendously from the fresh volcanic soil supplied by Volcano Baru. Additionally, the high elevation of the farm amidst this lush backdrop lends itself to particularly advantageous coffee-growing conditions: the climate is very dry during the dry season and very wet during the wet season, causing extended ripening times for some of the farm’s most beloved lots, including this stunning washed Gesha offering from the Lamastus family’s careful hands.  

TRUST THE PROCESS | After being handpicked at peak ripeness, whole coffee cherries are sorted for quality before being pulped. Next, they are submerged for a short period of underwater fermentation and then thoroughly rinsed, leaving no trace of mucilage or pectin before being spread out on raised beds to dry.

TAKE A SIP | When hot, this coffee displays the Gesha cup profile beautifully: an aroma like white flowers (magnolia), orchard fruits in abundance, and a finish that sips like oolong tea complimented by sweet lemon and honey.

As the coffee approaches a pleasantly warm temperature, the coffee remains floral as acidity ticks upward and tropical fruits, like mango, come into the picture. Stone fruits, like white peach and fresh cherry, can still be perceived. That oolong finish prevails. 

When cool, acidity peaks and becomes tartaric in nature, and the texture is juicy here. A concert of fruit notes play through the final sips: tart mango, yellow peaches, and lychee, to name a few. The coffee is still tea-like at this temperature, but oolong has given way to black tea. From the first sip to the last, it’s a vibrant, structured example of this beloved coffee variety from one of Panama’s most storied coffee families.

Origin | Boquete, Panama

Producer | Lamastus Family

Farm | Elida Estate

Process | Washed

Variety | Gesha

Elevation | 1670-1950 MASL

The Elida Estate Washed Gesha Lot C, produced by the Lamastus family in the Boquete region of Panama, represents a meticulous approach to one of coffee’s most celebrated cultivars. As a Gesha variety, this lot is defined by a delicate, tea-like profile and complex aromatics. The washed process employed here typically emphasizes the inherent clarity and acidity of the bean, allowing the nuanced characteristics of the terroir to shine through without the influence of fruit fermentation often found in natural-processed coffees.

Roasted by Black & White Coffee Roasters, this selection showcases a vibrant spectrum of flavors ranging from floral magnolia and white flowers to stone fruits like white peach and yellow peach. For those exploring the intricacies of such a profile, referencing a flavor wheel can help identify the subtle transitions between the tart lemon, honey, and black tea notes that define this specific harvest.