Panama Don Pepe Estate from Coffee Kiss Company
The Don Pepe Estate has won awards in 2006 for the Best Coffee in Panama, a country which is known for it’s vibrant coffee. The fresh smelling beans arrived in a air tight bag with a one way valve from Coffee Kiss Company. The beans appear to be roasted at a “City-ish” level, with hardly any oil showing on the beans. (A lighter roast than the average Starbucks offering) The company’s website calls it “complex”, with “silky flavor” and a “balanced acidity”. Let’s see if that description holds true.
Nose: Bright citrus, (leaning towards orange) hidden nuttiness, and smooth milk chocolate held together with a fresh & sweet backbone. After brewing the coffee my family loved the smooth milk chocolate smell that spread and dissipated into the room.
Mouth: Bright, citrusy, juicy acidity hits my tongue like a tidal wave, preceded by a sneaky nuttiness. Gripping, almost savory acidity rides through to the milk chocolate tinged (mostly) clean finish. The orange toned acidity is extremely enjoyable and gives this lighter bodied coffee it’s kick.
While this coffee doesn’t have an huge earthy or hearty body, it roundhouse kicks you in the face with it’s splendid, flowing brightness. This little Panamanian coffee has acidity to boot along with an awesome aromatic quality that has the ability to “occupy” a room.
In an effort to summarize I would say it “drinks like a Jamaican Blue Mountain with a bigger body”. The coffee has a very full flavor profile and in combination with it’s muscular acidity many people would find this coffee to be filling – not really for chugging.
This is a great coffee and I would enjoy it any time of day, but I think it could shine in the morning because of it’s aromatic qualities and kick. Anyone that likes complex, bright, or Latin American coffees should find the Don Pepe Estate quite agreeable.
A Side Note: Many of the coffees from Coffee Kiss Company are roasted lighter than one would find at Starbucks or many other big coffee chains. The coffees are still very flavorful but need to be prepared using a full 2 teaspoons for every 6 oz. of water to taste all that the beans have to offer.
1972 Bronze Medalist by The Bad Plus