Our Sixth Single Origin Coffee Comes from Finca Alma in Panama

Crema Coffee Garage spoke with Finca Auromar operator, Roberto Brenes, about their smaller Finca Alma farm, their practices and challenges, plus what to expect in 2018!

Finca Alma is a small farm in Panama and part of the larger coffee producing farm Auromar S.A., owned and operated by Roberto Brenes and his family. The farm is primarily dedicated to the production of high quality Geisha coffee, however for our Panama single origin we have secured a Washed Caturra and Catuai coffee produced on Finca Alma (their farm primarily dedicated to the production of Catuai).

Most of Sr. Brenes career has been spent in finance, studying an MBA at Columbia University and becoming the director of Panama’s Central Bank. He spent several years in exile after speaking out against Manuel Noriega, a Panamanian military officer who was the dictator of Panama from 1983 to 1989. Brenes spent those years travelling the Americas, advocating to restore democracy in his home country. These days, Sr. Brenes splits his time between days as the Director of the Panamanian Stock Exchange and his days as a high quality coffee producer.

Sr. Brenes has been producing high quality Geisha coffee since 2006 and has been expanding the farm, adding more varietals and expanding their production. His long career in finance has given him the skills and knowledge to take a pragmatic approach to the unique challenges of specialty coffee production. Over the past five years, his coffees have won numerous awards, including the Best of Panama award in 2013 for his Auromar Ironman Geisha, named for Sr. Brenes’ passion for Ironman competitions.

We spoke to Roberto Brenes to learn more about the farm, their processes, what they believe in as coffee producers and as a business.

 

Crema Coffee Garage: What were your reasons for establishing Finca Auromar and becoming a coffee producer?

Roberto Brenes: I was born and raised in Chiriquí the province of Panama where mountains rise to 4,000 meters and highland coffee has been grown since early 1900. I have pursued a long career far from the homeland and away from agriculture but mentally always close to them. My dream was to grow highland coffee, the tropical equivalent of owning a good vineyard. And here I am!!

 

CCG: What are the key differences between Finca Alma and Finca La Aurora?

RB: Finca Auromar is dedicated to Geisha while Alma, a much smaller farm, is basically devoted to Catuai. Soon the highest part of Alma will have Geisha also.

     

 

CCG: How do you balance your responsibilities in the Panamanian finance sector with your responsibilities as a farm owner and producer?

RB: There are two different worlds and balancing them is fun. Since my family lives in Chiriquí, coming to the farm has other rewards too. My days in the finance sector are less and less and in the coffee more and more.

CCG: What is one big issue you are dealing with as a coffee producer?

RB: Labour is the big challenge in coffee farming. Manual workers in the plantations are poor and uneducated. Besides training and monitoring their performance, we spend a lot of time trying to improve their quality of life.  It is not easy since they are an indigenous population with a different attitude towards life.

     

 

CCG: Is Finca Auromar involved with any foundations or organizations that assist with increasing the farms environmental and sustainability efforts?

RB: We are small and having some of these certifications is expensive. Nonetheless, we are members of the Special Coffee Association of Panama and share best practices on farm management. We also do a yearly environmental assessment with a private consultant and our farms, by most standards, have a high ratio of forest to plantation.

 

CCG: Is Finca Auromar involved with, or a sponsor of, any other charities or foundations? Are there options for coffee lovers abroad to support these causes too?

RB: We spend substantial resources improving our own workers and their families’ lives. We sponsor an Adult Education program to provide grade and high school education to workers. We provide transportation and school loans for the young. We are also exploring with neighbouring farms other ways to improve our labour and their families.

 

CCG: As a producer, what is your opinion on direct trade and fair trade as methods for securing coffee prices and ensuring fair payment?

RB: I love them. We are now pioneering ways of helping micro producers get on stream through our network and help.

 

CCG: What can coffee lovers abroad do to support producers like yourself better?

RB: A sure way is to buy and promote our high quality coffee. We have a profit sharing scheme with our workers so our success is also theirs.

 

CCG: What achievements of Finca Alma, and Finca Auromar as well, are you most proud of?

RB: Turning them into world class producers and an example to other farms in the quality of living of our associates.

 

CCG: Do you have a favourite varietal? If so, why?

RB: My favourite varietal is Tekisic. A high altitude strain of Bourbon coffee developed by the Coffee Institute in El Salvador. I have a few trees and most of it goes to personal consumption and friends.

 

CCG: We are purchasing your Caturra and Catuai produced on Finca Alma for our single origin coffee program in 2018 – is there any brew method you would recommend for this varietal?

RB: The washed version is very good and no secrets about brewing. If they are Naturals treat them as Geishas, low heat and plenty of rest.

 

CCG: What are your goals for Finca Alma, and Finca Auromar as well, in 2018?

RB: We bought one acre of new land high up in Alma, we will have some Alma Geisha in three years. We purchased neighbouring land in Auromar, six hectares, we will do Pacamara and a little more Catuai.

          

 

If you would like to learn more or keep up-to-date with Finca Auromar, Finca Alma or any of their projects, head to their website:

Website: www.auromarpanama.com/