Panama Finca La Santa

Finca La Santa is a hidden gem Jose Manuel and Aileene Gallardo owned. The farm and its owners combine quality, passion, and dedication that translates into a fantastic coffee.

Finca La Santa is situated between 1100 and 1400 MASL in Jurutungo, Santa Clara, in the province of Chiriqui, nestled between a natural rainforest reserve on the one side and the border of Costa Rica on the other. The location and environment of the farm are challenging, with cold temperatures at night, lots of wind, and high rainfall. Even so, Jose manages to produce some incredible coffees. Or, as Jose says, it’s because of these conditions that while production and productivity are low, the result is a coffee with intense flavor. The cold wind and rain from the Atlantic through the mountains dividing Panama create La Santa’s special flavor notes.

The farm is based on a family tradition, which started when Jose’s father came to the region in the 60’s and started to plant coffee about 10 years ago. Jose and Aileene have divided the farm management into 5 micro-areas, all located in different microclimates. They process all the coffee on the farm, with the final preparation done in a more enormous mill.

The secret of the success of their coffee is a result of several factors all playing together in the right way. At the top of this list is Jose’s own dedication and his near obsession with growing and processing exceptional specialty coffee. He speaks passionately about the farm and coffee and is passionate about processing specialty coffee. He strongly believes in learning and improving techniques continuously in this area. Jose takes meticulous care of the plants and ensures only ripe cherries are picked during harvest. He constantly cups during the processing and separates lots by day and location to determine the micro lots that produce the best quality. Other essential factors in coffee are the selection of the seeds, the particular area of the coffee, and the microclimates.