Panama Villa Donia

Panama Villa Donia is a specialty coffee from the highlands of Boquete in Panama. This coffee is the result of a unique collaboration between three local coffee farmers in the Chiriquí province. The involved estates are Finca Fatima, Finca Villa Donia and Finca Don Robert. They are located on the fertile slopes of the Barú volcano at approximately 1,100 to 1,500 meters in altitude. This terroir, with its cool climate and rich volcanic soil, contributes to the complex flavour of the coffee beans.

Badeta uses a medium roast profile for this bean that is suitable for both filter and espresso. The beans are roasted relatively lightly to allow the diverse aromas to come through optimally. Thanks to this gentle roasting, the fruity and sweet tones are preserved while the coffee still has sufficient body. All roastings take place in Badeta's own micro-roastery in Amsterdam, which ensures maximum freshness at delivery.

Panama Villa Donia treats the senses to a rich flavour palette with prominent notes of vanilla. Additionally, there is a soft, round body with hints of fruit and a spiciness reminiscent of coffee biscuits (speculaas-like cookies). Each sip offers a layered experience, the coffee is complex and surprising, with new nuances to discover in every cup. When brewed as filter coffee, the bright red-fruit notes come forward, accompanied by a pleasant, lively acidity. In an espresso, by contrast, the creamy vanilla and spicy undertones come more to the fore, making the coffee almost dessert-like.

The processing method for this coffee is as unique as its flavour profile. Panama Villa Donia undergoes the so-called "Dynamic Cherry" process, an innovative anaerobic fermentation of the coffee cherries that lasts 72 to 96 hours. Freshly picked cherries are sealed in large tanks fitted with water locks (airlocks), so that accumulated fermentation gases can escape while no oxygen is allowed in. By releasing the gases in a controlled way, yeast and lactic acid bacteria are able to develop well, which benefits the fermentation. After this three- to four-day fermentation the fermented cherries are slowly dried in the sun (natural processing), concentrating the intense flavours in the bean. This drying process can be exceptionally long with this method, up to around 600 hours (about 25 days) on patios, which testifies to the craftsmanship and attention to detail.

This microlot consists of 100% Arabica beans and mainly revolves around the Catuai variety. Catuai is a hybrid Arabica variety, the result of a cross between Mundo Novo and Caturra. This variety is known for its balanced flavour profile and good yield, which makes it popular with quality farmers in Central America. According to available information, this project also includes small amounts of the prestigious Geisha and Pacamara varieties. The presence of these exclusive varieties emphasises the special character of Panama Villa Donia, since Geisha is known for floral aromas and Pacamara for its large beans and complex, fruity profile.

Badeta places great value on sustainability and ethics in the coffee supply chain. The company shares the mission of enabling everyone to enjoy responsible, distinctive and high-quality coffee. An important part of this is direct collaboration with farmers: Badeta builds long-term relationships in which farmer and roaster support each other to produce better coffee each year. Such partnerships give farmers a fair price and stimulate innovative projects like the Dynamic Cherry fermentation. That three small-scale farmers in Panama experimented together with this new fermentation technique illustrates the focus on knowledge sharing and sustainable development in the coffee world. Moreover, the chosen processing method (anaerobic natural) requires hardly any water compared with traditional washed processes, contributing to more environmentally friendly production.

• Slow coffee methods such as a V60 dripper, Kalita or Chemex beautifully highlight the fruity clarity of this coffee.
• Also when brewed in a drip machine (such as a Moccamaster) or with an Aeropress, a balanced cup is produced in which the complexity comes through well.
• For the adventurous enthusiast this coffee can also be prepared as an espresso, yielding an intense shot with full vanilla and spice notes.
• Experimenting pays off, each brewing method reveals different nuances of Panama Villa Donia.

Panama Villa Donia falls into the specialty coffee category and has scored very positively in tastings. For example, a lot from Finca Villa Donia scored 87.25 points out of 100 in a cupping, well above the 80-point threshold for specialty coffee, which confirms its high quality. Although this specific coffee has (so far) not won any well-known awards, it does attract international attention thanks to the innovative fermentation process. Examples include leading roasters abroad who offer Panama microlots using the Dynamic Cherry method to surprise coffee lovers. The interest from such specialty roasters underscores that Panama Villa Donia occupies a special place in the current coffee market.

Badeta packages its coffee in high-quality, airtight bags with a convenient resealable strip. Each coffee bag also contains a one-way valve that allows excess gas from the freshly roasted beans to escape while preventing oxygen from entering. This helps preserve the aromas and freshness for longer. The packaging has a clean, informative design: the label clearly states origin, processing method and tasting notes, so it's immediately clear what is being purchased. Panama Villa Donia is available in various sizes, for example a small bag of approximately 250 g costs around €10.55, while a one-kilogram pack is about €38.35. This modern packaging reinforces the coffee's premium appearance and helps ensure that quality is preserved down to the last bean.

Panama Villa Donia is offered exclusively by Badeta Koffiebranders and is available via the Badeta-webshop and in the roastery's own coffee shop in Amsterdam. Because it is a one-off microlot from a specific harvest, availability is limited, once it's gone it's gone. The pricing is reasonable for a coffee of this class, €10.55 for a basic bag and €38.35 for the largest pack. That places this Panamanian specialty coffee in the upper-middle segment, which, given the unique processing and quality, represents excellent value for money. For orders within the Netherlands, free shipping often applies above a certain amount, which makes it even more attractive to try this unique coffee.