Norberto Suarez

Have you ever ridden in a Ford F-450…? Probably not, because you are not El Jefe. Norberto Suarez is the definition of a coffee boss. He eats, breathes and sleeps coffee...literally, his house is at the base of one of his farms. His passion comes through in each crop he harvests and his knowledge of the land is obvious. Even in his late sixties, he easily walks his farms in their steep terrain and diverse topography...like a boss.

We have known Norberto for four years now and is a relationship we hold near and dear to our heart. We had the opportunity to visit El Jefe again in February 2020, almost four years to the date of our first visit. He is an amazing farmer, friend and uncle to Nadeia [the Outdoors (wo)man].

The coffee is grown on extremely steep hillsides with stunning views of the region. Norberto and his family reside at La Gloria Estate in Boquete's Horqueta subregion. The farm ranges from 1360 to 2000 meters above sea level. Their soil is of volcanic origin, with temperatures averaging 15 to 22 degrees Celsius and an average rainfall of 3000 millimeters per year. It also has a wide variety of flora and wildlife, including white-neck monkeys, venison, rabbits and several native birds. Four natural springs either originate or run across the estate, which help make the soil rich and well balanced.

Additionally, Norberto has a mill where he can maintain extremely high processing standards. There, they use water from a stream on the property and turn the parchment (an unused part of the bean) into fuel to operate the mechanical dryers.

We hope to get back to Panama soon for another visit, but in the meantime, please enjoy this lovely coffee.