Crop:
2023

Flavor Indication:
Red fruit, chocolate & sweet.

Brewing method:
(Quick) filter, push pot, espresso machine, full automatic, espresso pitcher, iced and with milk.

Meet the Coffee Farmer:
Coffee Farmer: Hartmann Family
Coffee: Panama Hartmann Birdsong
Plantation: Finca Hartmann Estate
Location: District of Volcán

The coffee farmer:
The Hartmann family is one of the pioneers of specialty coffee in Panama. Alois Strasil Hartmann (born 1891 in Moravia, then Austro-Hungarian Empire) emigrated to Panama. His son Ratibor Hartmann founded Finca Hartmann in 1940. This third- and fourth-generation family business runs on the passion of all family members, each fulfilling a specific role. For them, coffee is a way of life, a culture of family and love. This is also true for Barend Boot and his team at BOOT Koffie. Since 1996, Finca Hartmann and BOOT Koffie have shared a successful partnership, driven by a deep passion for coffee.

The plantation and the coffee:
Finca Hartmann covers about 80 hectares and is located at an altitude of 1,300 - 1,900 meters in Santa Clara, Chiriquí. The plantation borders a rainforest reserve with hundreds of birds and Costa Rica. The cold nights and winds from the Atlantic Ocean create favorable conditions in which the coffee beans develop an intense flavor. The coffee is grown in the shade of the ancient rainforest. The Hartmann family does not cut down trees and thus ensures sufficient shade trees. This allows the coffee to develop better. This natural environment contributes to the coffee's complex layers of flavor. Finca Hartmann is home to 280 bird species and a place where unique coffee is grown.

No pesticides have been used at Finca Hartmann for decades. Sustainable cultivation of high quality coffee with respect for the rainforest is the motto. The indigenous Ngöbe tribes are hired so that they can make a living independently. All grading is done manually and non-conforming berries are used as organic fertilizer. In the specialty coffee world, the Hartmann family is a renowned name with prestige for their methods and high quality coffee.

Barend Boot:
"Several years ago, Ratibor and Tessie visited the Netherlands and we reminisced fondly. Walking around with my brother Willem and my father Jacob, we saw a small wooden house in the rainforest reserve where beans were resting, next to the magical spring "Ojo de Agua." The birdsong and swinging monkeys among the trees above the coffee bushes made it magical. Thus began our love for these coffees in the 1990s. We visit the finca almost every year. Over the years, the coffee has evolved tremendously in taste thanks to our shared experiences. The Hartmann family has regularly won awards at the "Best of Panama" coffee competition. An achievement to be proud of!"

Coffee Designers:
In addition to native Panamanian varieties, the Hartmann family experiments with new varieties not previously present in Panama. They look for the best spots on their finca for these coffees. Actually, they are coffee designers. They advise farmers in the area and far beyond. Ratibor Hartmann Jr. along with his wife Tessie Palacios and farmers in the area also produce other wonderful BOOT Coffees. We regularly offer Limited Edition coffees produced by the Hartmann family.

Organization:
The plantation normally employs about 35 people, and 200 indigenous families live there during harvest time. In Panama, coffee farmers provide housing for their staff. The Hartmann family provides a safe, good living environment with electricity and clean drinking water. This cannot be taken for granted in Panama and the coffee world!

Futureproof Coffee Collective:
Panama is a relatively prosperous country in Latin America, with the highest minimum wage in the region. The Hartmann family values a decent income and good living environment for their workers. This allows pickers to selectively pick ripe berries, which improves quality. The plantation has plenty of natural water and cultivation in the rainforest minimizes environmental impact. Pure coffee, and you can taste it!

The name "Panama Hartmann Birdsong.
Birdsong gets its name from the many birds that nest on the plantation, including in the coffee bushes. More than 280 species have been spotted.

Downloads:

Coffee sheet (PDF)  BOOT Coffee Brew Guide (PDF)