Photo: Coffee farmer Alex Hartmann & Rick Maas of BOOT Coffee

The personal story of coffee buyer Rick Maas
During my trip in Panama, last February, I was invited to several coffee plantations to come cupping = tasting coffee, as was the case on Monday, February 26. On that evening, the cupping ran considerably late and I drove back very late to the coffee farm of the Hartmann family where I was staying. An exciting ride, so in the dark, on a road winding through the jungle. You can see the giant trees and hear the impressive sounds of nature, especially the crickets that predominate. Eventually we arrived at a turnoff just before the beginning of the family's forest area. There begins a small dirt road that leads to Finca Hartmann. I had to stop to look up at the unprecedentedly clear starry sky. This one was so unimaginably beautiful and clear! A more than perfect ending to a beautiful day.

The next day I went cupping with the Hartmann family. They were really very enthusiastic so we scheduled 3 rounds. Of course I didn't say no to a 4th round either. Who wouldn't want to taste Hartmann Mi Finquita coffees!
In the end, I tasted a total of 30 Hartmann coffees and 8 Mi Finquita coffees, making an impressive total of 38 coffees.

During this cupping we really tasted all sorts of things mixed together. From Geisha to Caturra, from Maragogype to natural, washed and so on. The tasting is done with a cupping spoon and blind, so I didn't know which variety was in front of me either. Each coffee has a number and the experience is noted. You are only told afterwards which coffee belongs to that number, so you are never biased. At one point I tasted a coffee that, to me stood out tremendously. So beautifully pronounced in fruit notes of raspberry and blueberry! Very sweet and with the floral of little hints of hibiscus and a bit of rose. The Geisha coffees that followed also stood out, which are always great coffees.

At the unveiling, 1 coffee scored highest, after the Geishas I had tasted. I was really impressed with that coffee, which had surprised me so much on the table. I was surprised that this was a Caturra Natural, because it was so distinctive from its peers! I decided to re-cup some more coffees which we then did on Feb. 28.

Once again, the selected coffees were displayed on the table. And after thorough tasting, once again my favorite stood out. What fine complexity with those little pronounced definitions, that floral, so beautifully bright in its fruit, so clean and delicate! The other coffees were great too, but this one left a lasting impression on me. So I immediately felt I had to purchase this coffee so you can taste it too!

And you can, starting Thursday, August 1!
The Panama Hartmann Natural - Lot 34 - Limited Edition is in, toasted and really must be tasted by you!

Rick Maas

Panama Hartmann Natural Lot 34- Limited Edition