When people think of Panama, they often think of the Canal, Casco Antiguo, tropical beaches, and its role as a global business hub. But another side of the country has captured the world’s attention: specialty coffee. Panama is not known for producing coffee on a massive scale. Its reputation comes from something different: exceptional quality.

To understand Panama’s coffee culture, you have to look to the highlands of Chiriquí. Located in the mountains, Boquete is home to some of the country’s most renowned coffee farms. It also offers a completely different side of Panama, with cool mountain air, lush landscapes, coffee farms, and a slower pace of life, just a short flight from Panama City.

At the center of this story is the famous Panama Geisha, a variety that has become one of the most sought-after coffees in the world. Grown in the highlands of Chiriquí, particularly around Boquete, it benefits from a unique combination of altitude, climate, and volcanic soils that creates ideal conditions for specialty coffee. In 2025, a washed Geisha from Hacienda La Esmeralda sold for more than US$30,000 per kilogram at the Best of Panama auction, highlighting the extraordinary value that Panama’s coffee can command. It is a simple reminder that Panama does not need to produce the most coffee. Its reputation comes from producing some of the most exceptional coffee.

But Panama’s coffee story does not end in the mountains. In Casco Antiguo, Panama City’s historic district, a growing coffee culture brings some of the country’s specialty coffee into the heart of the city. Visitors can discover Panamanian coffee in intimate coffee shops surrounded by historic architecture, plazas, restaurants, galleries, and the vibrant energy of one of Panama’s most distinctive neighborhoods.

This makes Casco Antiguo a natural part of the journey. While the coffee is grown in the highlands, the city offers another way to discover it, connecting Panama’s agricultural heritage with its culture, gastronomy, and urban life. In just a few blocks, visitors can walk through centuries-old streets, stop for coffee, explore local shops and galleries, and take in the neighborhood at their own pace.

Together, Boquete and Casco Antiguo offer two very different perspectives on Panama’s coffee culture: one rooted in the highlands where the beans are grown, and the other in the historic streets where they can be enjoyed.

That connection is becoming even more relevant as Panama prepares to welcome one of the coffee world’s most important international events. From October 23–25, 2026, Panama City will host World of Coffee Panama, bringing producers, roasters, buyers, and coffee professionals from around the world together for the first World of Coffee event in Latin America.

For Panama, this event represents much more than a celebration of coffee. It is an opportunity to showcase the quality of its coffee production while also introducing the world to the country’s natural resources, culture, gastronomy, connectivity, and ability to create experiences with global appeal. And perhaps that is precisely what makes Panama’s coffee culture so interesting.

As Panama welcomes visitors from around the world through events like World of Coffee, new opportunities arise to discover the country beyond its best-known landmarks. And for those who want to make their connection to Panama more than just a visit, we offer a curated selection of properties and projects across the country. Come and discover everything Panama has to offer with us.