Panama Coffee Sells for Up to $18,004 a Kilo. Next Week the World’s Coffee Industry Comes to Panama City

Article written: October 16, 2026

When is World of Coffee Panama 2026? The trade show runs October 23 to 25 at the Panama Convention Center in Amador, with the World Barista Championship running alongside it from October 22 to 25. It is the first World of Coffee held in Latin America and the first ever held in a coffee-producing country. The citywide warm-up, Coffee Weeks, began on October 15 and runs through October 31.

Organizers expect about 13,000 attendees and more than 320 exhibitors from 30 countries, including the United States, China, Germany, the United Arab Emirates, Colombia and Costa Rica. The barista championship will bring national champions from more than 50 countries to compete for the world title.

Who Is Organizing World of Coffee Panama?

The event is a partnership between the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA), which runs World of Coffee shows in Europe, Asia and the Middle East, the Specialty Coffee Association of Panama (SCAP), and the Panama Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture (CCIAP). It is backed by the Ministry of Commerce and Industries, the Ministry of Culture, the Tourism Authority (ATP), Promtur and the national science secretariat, Senacyt.

The SCA normally holds these shows in coffee-consuming countries. Choosing Panama is a deliberate shift toward origin, and a recognition of how far Panama’s reputation has traveled.

How Much Is Panamanian Coffee Worth?

Panama is a small producer by volume. Its standing comes from price, and the gap between ordinary exports and auction lots is enormous.

Buyers came from the Middle East, Europe, Asia and the Americas. Chinese buyers alone took 20 lots and accounted for 38% of this year’s Best of Panama revenue. Five Geisha coffees sold above $10,000 per kilo, something producer Wilford Lamastus said had never happened before.

We covered the auctions in detail in Panamanian Geisha Sells for $18,004 a Kilo as Best of Panama Auction Tops $3 Million.

Why Did Panama Become a Top Coffee Origin?

The turning point came in 2004, when Hacienda La Esmeralda’s Geisha, a variety originally from Ethiopia, won Best of Panama and drew the attention of specialty buyers worldwide. Since then, Panama has built its market around three things that SCAP and organizers repeatedly emphasize: quality, traceability and transparency.

The high-altitude, volcanic slopes of Barú Volcano in Chiriquí, around Boquete, Volcán and Tierras Altas, and Renacimiento, give the region its cool temperatures and the slow-ripening cherries that produce the floral, citrus profile buyers pay for. The Best of Panama competition, now in its 30th year, uses externally audited cupping scores to set auction starting prices, which gives international buyers confidence in what they are bidding on.

Producers also credit cooperation among farms. Forbes Centroamérica, profiling the Lamastus family this year, described the Chiriquí highlands as the Silicon Valley of coffee, a place where competitors share knowledge and push each other upward.

What Does Coffee Mean for Boquete’s Economy?

In Boquete, coffee is not just an export. It shapes the town’s tourism, employment and identity. Farms such as Finca Lérida, Elida Estate and others offer tours and tastings, and the annual Flower and Coffee Fair fills local hotels. The Ngäbe-Buglé workers who hand-pick the harvest each season remain the backbone of production.

Public investment is following the industry. The Ministry of Public Works awarded Constructora Ininco a $25.9 million contract to rehabilitate the Ruta del Café, more than 25 kilometers of roads linking Alto Boquete, Volcancito, El Salto, Jaramillo and Bajo Boquete. Better roads serve farmers moving their harvest, visitors on coffee tours and residents alike. We covered the project’s progress in Chiriquí’s Road Boom.

Boquete also came through the October 9 earthquake largely unaffected. The damage was concentrated hundreds of kilometers away on the Azuero Peninsula.

Does Coffee Affect Real Estate in the Highlands?

Indirectly, yes. The global attention on Panamanian coffee keeps Boquete and the Chiriquí highlands in front of an international audience, many of whom first visit for coffee tourism and later return to buy. Established farms in recognized micro-regions attract interest from investors looking for agricultural land with a story, and highland properties with coffee on them often appeal to buyers who want a lifestyle property that also produces something.

That said, coffee farming is a demanding business. Most Panamanian coffee sells far below auction prices, and only a tiny share of production ever reaches those lots. Anyone considering a farm or ranch should evaluate altitude, water rights, access, labor and the cost of reaching specialty-grade quality, not just the headline numbers.

How Can You Take Part in Coffee Weeks?

During Coffee Weeks, participating cafés, restaurants and hotels across Panama City are offering a Coffee Special built around Panamanian specialty coffee, along with tastings and themed menus. The national campaign “Panamá, sabe a café” frames the event as a showcase of coffee’s role in Panama’s history, economy and culture.

For a country that produces a small fraction of the world’s coffee, hosting the industry’s main trade show is a significant milestone. Next week, the buyers, roasters and baristas who usually see Panama only on an auction screen will be in Panama City, a short flight from the farms where the coffee grows.

If you are curious about living near the source in Boquete or the highlands east of Boquete, Casa Solution‘s Boquete team can show you what is available, from in-town homes to working coffee land.