Carmen Estate Natural

About the Coffee

Carmen Estate sits high in the mountains of Panama's Chiriquí region, where cool temperatures and shade from old-growth forest create growing conditions that have made it one of the country's most recognized farms. Jean Paul Langenstein now stewards the property, taking over from the Franceschi family and continuing the work they built there. JP is unusual in that he operates on both sides of the industry as a producer and a roaster, and he participates in Best of Panama, one of the most competitive green coffee competitions in the world.

This coffee is a Caturra variety, a naturally occurring mutation of Bourbon that tends to produce smaller yields but concentrated flavor. It was processed using the natural method, meaning the whole coffee cherry was dried intact rather than removing the fruit before drying. Monogram notes it was dried slowly on raised beds, which allows airflow around the cherries and gives producers more control over the drying speed. That slower process builds sweetness and complexity in the final cup.

Carmen Estate has earned recognition at Best of Panama over multiple years, and Langenstein's dual background as both grower and roaster gives him a specific advantage in understanding how processing decisions translate to flavor. The combination of high elevation, the Caturra variety, and careful natural processing on raised beds makes this a well-documented example of what Panama can produce.

About Monogram

Ben Put, Justin Eyford, and Jeremy Ho started Monogram in Calgary after crossing paths as baristas early in their careers. They opened their first location in the Altadore neighbourhood in 2014, starting from a hand-built coffee cart before establishing a permanent space. The three came from different backgrounds, music, health sciences, and development, but shared an interest in specialty coffee and wanted to make it more approachable for people who found the culture around it off-putting.

Ben Put has won the Canadian Barista Championship seven times and placed third at the 2025 World Barista Championship. Monogram has collectively earned 10 Canadian Barista Championship titles. That competition background feeds directly into how they approach sourcing and roasting. They maintain long-term relationships with specific farms, including the Lamastus family at Elida Estate and Jamison Savage at Finca Deborah, both in Panama, which is part of why they have consistent access to Panamanian coffees like this one from Carmen Estate.