Panama Boquete Casa Ruiz

Last week I was out of town, camping with my son’s class in the Sierra Buttes. On our second day camping we hiked to the lookout tower, the highest point in the header picture. It’s a fire lookout perched at 8500+ feet, and the view is stunning. Our trail was around five miles, round trip, with over 2000′ of elevation gain. The amazing thing is that not only did all the kids make it, but they did it with a good attitude.

Mom and son on the lookout tower

Their positive spirits made it a joy to hang out with them. Kudos to all the parents out there raising kids who are willing to persevere and to encourage one another when it is difficult. My favorite part of the day were the moments when Jack left his friends and came and held my hand for a bit. That doesn’t happen often in fifth grade, but it’s sure precious when it does.

This week we have a high elevation coffee for you, although I’m sure it’s not as dramatically steep as the Sierra Buttes. This is our Panama Boquete from the Casa Ruiz estate. You can read about Casa Ruiz here, and about how their family has been farming in Panama for over 100 years. They are committed to quality coffee, and to sustainability.

I like that they define sustainability not just in terms of their land, which is the most common usage, but in terms of the people who work the coffee. Their coffee is shade grown, and they do practice environmentally sound techniques, but they are also committed to educating and bettering the lives of the indigenous people who help with harvest.

The Ruiz family also provides a place for other local farmers to process their beans. Three generations of experience have allowed them to help others in the region. They value quality: their coffee arrived here in a GrainPro bag, a plastic bag with a vapor barrier that lines the traditional jute sack and preserves the coffee. The beans are beautifully even, and we roasted them light upon arrival. They have a wonderful mellow flavor with sweet chocolate tones. This is easy to drink coffee at its finest.

You can try a cup of this Panamanian on us this week with the code lookout tower*. I have enjoyed the cooler weather this week, and especially the rain. Hopefully we’ll have more of the same in the week to come. It can only help with all the wildfires that have taken off in the last week. Enjoy your September weekend, and drink good coffee. Cheers!
–Holly Fike

*Code good for one free 12 ounce cup of Panama Boquete. Code expires on 9.24.15. Limit one free cup per customer please. Valid only at Carolines Coffee Roasters, 128 S. Auburn Street, Grass Valley, CA. Code/Offer has no cash value.