Introduction:In the Traditional Varieties category of the 2025 Best of Panama (BOP), Cantera Farm claimed third place with a score of 92.25, trailing only Emerald and Dark Moon farms. How did this coffee farm, nurtured by three generations of the Garrido family, carve out its own niche in a market dominated by Geisha? This article takes you behind the scenes to uncover the cultivation secrets, unique microclimate, and the flavor profile that wowed the judges at this high-altitude farm.

At the 2025 Best of Panama (BOP) competition, on the podium of the Traditional Varieties category—right after Emerald Farm and Dark Moon Farm—was Cantera Farm (坎特拉莊園). With an impressive score of 92.25, the farm secured third place in the category, and standing behind the achievement were sisters Gissell and Liliana Garrido, who were managing the farm at the time.

The Garrido family’s history in coffee cultivation dates back to 1959. That year, Teodoro Garrido planted the first coffee trees in the highlands of Boquete, Panama, marking the beginning of a deep connection between this mountain farm and coffee. More than sixty years have passed, and the family business has now been passed down to the third generation, managed jointly by mother Irma and her two daughters, Gissell and Liliana. Under their stewardship are several plots including Cantera, Volcancito, Margarita, and Los Rosales, which are scattered across different altitudes in Boquete, each with its own unique microclimate and terroir.

When it comes to the Garrido family’s landmark achievements in the coffee world, one cannot overlook the unique variety known as Mokkita. Around 2005, family member José David Garrido discovered a mutant coffee tree at Finca Mamaccat that produced extremely small fruits. After expert evaluation, it was identified as an extremely rare and unique genotype within Arabica. Since then, the family has devoted years to propagating the variety. Although Mokkita is currently grown only sporadically in the Boquete region, it won the championship in the non-Geisha category of the BOP for two consecutive years, 2020 and 2021, propelling the Garrido name onto the international stage.

Cantera Farm’s cultivation altitude ranges between 1300 and 1450 meters, and the soil is typical volcanic ash, which is rich in organic matter and minerals—providing ample nutrients for the coffee trees. During the day, the highland sun shines abundantly, enabling the coffee cherries to undergo sufficient photosynthesis; at night, temperatures drop rapidly, creating a significant diurnal temperature variation. The Garrido family refers to this unique microclimate as “the source of flavor balance,” as such conditions help the coffee achieve a delicate equilibrium between acidity, sweetness, and mouthfeel during ripening, resulting in a complex and layered flavor profile.

It’s worth noting that the Garrido family hasn’t limited themselves to cultivating a single variety. In addition to the highly acclaimed Mokkita, they also grow multiple traditional and classic varieties at Cantera Farm, including Geisha and Typica, and actively experiment with various processing methods such as washed, natural, and honey processes to explore diverse flavor possibilities. In the 2025 BOP competition, it was precisely this batch of traditional varieties that stood out—with its refined flavor profile and consistent quality—securing third place in the Traditional Varieties category with a score of 92.25, once again demonstrating the family’s deep expertise and long-term dedication in the non-Geisha arena.

From the first coffee tree planted in 1959 to the third-place finish in the Traditional Varieties category at the 2025 BOP, the Garrido family has spent over half a century—through three generations of patience and perseverance—proving one thing: even in a Panama where the Geisha variety shines brightly, traditional varieties still hold an irreplaceable place—as long as there are people willing to plant, protect, and refine them, generation after generation.

The above content is compiled by CoffeeHunters, a coffee news website.