Lamastus Family

The Lamastus family legacy in Panamanian coffee spans over a century, rooted in the high-altitude volcanic soils of the Boquete region. Founded in 1918 by Robert Lamastus, the family’s flagship property, Elida Estate, is situated on the slopes of the Volcán Barú National Park. Today, the estate is managed by the third and fourth generations, including Wilford Lamastus and his son, Wilford Jr., who oversee operations across three distinct farms: Elida Estate, El Burro Estate, and Luito Geisha Estate. This continuity of leadership has allowed the family to refine their agricultural practices over decades, focusing on shade-grown, bird-friendly cultivation at extreme elevations.

The family’s rise to international prominence is inextricably linked to the Geisha variety. While the variety was introduced to Panama by other pioneers, the Lamastus family became instrumental in elevating its profile through rigorous quality control and competition success. Elida Estate began planting Geisha in 2005, and the family has since become a dominant force in the Best of Panama (BoP) competition. Their commitment to quality is reflected in their consistent ability to secure top rankings in both washed and natural Geisha categories, a feat that has solidified their reputation among specialty roasters worldwide.

A defining characteristic of the Lamastus approach is their willingness to innovate in post-harvest processing. They are widely recognized for their development and refinement of the Anaerobic Slow Dry (ASD) method. This technique involves fermenting coffee cherries in oxygen-free tanks for extended periods—sometimes up to 120 hours—followed by a prolonged, low-temperature drying process on raised beds. This method is designed to accentuate the exotic, tropical fruit profiles inherent in their high-altitude Geisha, resulting in complex, jammy, and floral flavor profiles that have become a hallmark of their brand.

The impact of these innovations is best documented through their competition history. In 2018 and 2019, the family achieved historic success at the Best of Panama, winning both the washed and natural Geisha categories in consecutive years. Their 2019 Elida Geisha Green Tip Natural ASD set a new benchmark for the competition, scoring 95.25 points and achieving record-breaking auction prices. These results have not only brought prestige to the Lamastus name but have also served as a catalyst for the broader growth of the Panamanian specialty coffee industry.

Beyond the farm, the family has actively participated in the global coffee community. Wilford Lamastus Jr. represented Panama at the 2019 World Brewers Cup, where he placed 5th in the Open Service category using their signature ASD-processed Geisha. This transition from producer to competitor highlights the family’s holistic understanding of the coffee value chain, from the specific microclimates of their cloud-forest farms to the final extraction in the cup.

For the roaster and the consumer, the Lamastus tag represents a standard of excellence in the ultra-premium coffee market. Their farms benefit from a unique microclimate created by the proximity to the Caribbean Sea and the high elevation of the Volcán Barú, which provides the cool nights necessary for slow cherry maturation. This environmental advantage, combined with their technical expertise in processing, ensures that their coffees remain among the most sought-after in the world, often reserved for the most discerning specialty coffee programs.