Mirra - Martin Santos, Washed | Panama

Details:

• Origin: Panama, Boquete
  
  

• Producer: Martin Santos — Finca Esther

• Variety: SL34

• Process: Washed

• Elevation: ~1,550 m above sea level (Boquete terroir)

• Roast Level: Light. Nordic‑style

• Bag Sizes:  125 g

• Tasting Notes: Black plum 🍑 • White vanilla 🍨 • Black cherry cola 🍒🥤

Intro:

Mirra is excited to present Panama Martin Santos, a beautifully nuanced washed SL34 from Finca Esther — a high‑altitude coffee farm in Boquete, Panama. This offering is part of Mirra’s ongoing initiative to broaden appreciation for Panamanian coffees beyond the highly‑recognised Gesha varieties. Martin’s SL34 presents a more mellow, sweet, and deep fruit‑forward profile that contrasts yet complements other lots from the region, delivering a cup that is both rich and refined.

The Producer:

Martin Santos is the founder of Finca Esther, established in 2002 alongside Esther Leung. Located on the fertile slopes of the Barú volcano at ~1,550 m above sea level, Finca Esther benefits from exceptional soil and climate conditions well‑suited to specialty coffee cultivation. Along with Finca Minerva and Finca El Salto, Esther is part of the Mas Café group — farms known for careful farming practices and consistently high‑quality output. Mirra’s collaboration with Martin this season marks the first direct relationship between roaster and producer, with plans to continue highlighting the meticulous work happening on these farms.

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The Process:

The coffee is washed processed, a method that accentuates clarity and brightens inherent varietal characteristics while maintaining sweetness and body. Cherries are harvested at peak ripeness, pulped, fermented to remove mucilage, washed thoroughly, and then dried under controlled conditions. Mirra’s Nordic‑style light roast approach — aimed at highlighting purity and fruit character rather than roast‑driven notes — lets the cup’s intrinsic qualities sing.

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The Cup:

In the cup, Panama Martin Santos delivers a rich and harmonious fruit profile. You can expect juicy black plum 🍑 upfront, tempered by crisp, clean white vanilla 🍨 that envelops the palate. On the finish, black cherry cola 🍒🥤 emerges with nuanced spice, echoing deep, juicy fruit flavours and a touch of classic cola‑like warmth. The overall experience is mellow, sweet, and lingering — with a rounded body and balanced acidity that rewards filter brewing.

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Overall:

Mirra’s Panama Martin Santos is a compelling showcase of SL34 outside of its usual Kenyan context — proving it can flourish and express beautifully in Panamanian terroir. With its rich fruit character, clean sweetness, and nuanced finish, this coffee is both distinctive and approachable. Whether you’re exploring Panamanian coffees beyond geisha or simply seeking a polished and flavorful washed cup, this SL34 from Martin Santos offers a memorable and deeply satisfying coffee experience.

What is the roast recency?

Mirra doesn't advertise a roast preference to Filter or Espresso. That being said, Mirra typically roast nordic-style light, meaning Mirra is best for bright and acidic filter with floral aroma and modern espresso.

We recommend brewing with beans that are at least two weeks off roast. All beans are roasted to peak flavour at around 8-12 weeks. We have the option to either purchase standard beans (at least 2 weeks but no longer than 6 weeks off roast), or rested beans (at least 7 weeks off roast, no longer than 12). For peak flavour, if you are looking to use immediately, we recommend purchasing the rested beans. If you are adding to your rotation of beans, we recommend purchasing the standard and allowing the beans to naturally rest and mature whilst you rotate through other beans.