Ricardo Koyner

Ricardo Koyner is a third-generation coffee producer and trained agronomist who manages Café Kotowa, a collection of farms located in the high-altitude region of Boquete, Panama. His family’s history in the region dates back to the early 1900s when they emigrated from Canada and established one of the country’s first operational coffee mills. Koyner, who holds a degree in Agricultural Engineering from the Zamorano Institute and a Master’s in Agribusiness from the University of Florida, took over the family’s initial seven hectares of coffee land, eventually expanding the operation into the multi-farm enterprise known today as Café Kotowa.

Koyner’s influence extends far beyond his own estates. In the early 1990s, he was a founding member of the Specialty Coffee Association of Panama (SCAP), working alongside other industry pioneers to organize the inaugural Best of Panama competition. This initiative was designed to revolutionize the local industry by shifting the focus from domestic consumption to the international specialty market, effectively putting Panama on the map as a producer of world-class, high-scoring coffees.

In his capacity as a producer, Koyner is recognized for his technical rigor and commitment to innovation. His farms are known for meticulous quality control, including a proprietary color-coding system applied across his wet and dry mills to track specific varieties, processing methods, and individual farm lots. This systematic approach has consistently yielded award-winning results, with his coffees frequently placing in the Best of Panama auctions across both Gesha and traditional variety categories.

Koyner is also noted for his engineering ingenuity, particularly in the development of custom-designed fermentation equipment. He has pioneered specialized tanks for anaerobic and carbonic maceration, which allow for the rotation of coffee cherries during fermentation. This design ensures a more homogenous interaction between the fruit juices and the beans, a process that has become a hallmark of his experimental processing techniques.

Beyond his work at the farm level, Koyner remains a central figure in the global coffee community. He has served as the President of the Specialty Coffee Association of Panama and has been a vocal advocate for the importance of the 'origin experience' in the success of varieties like Gesha. His leadership continues to bridge the gap between producers and the international trade, as evidenced by his involvement in hosting major industry events like the World of Coffee Panama.

Today, the legacy of Café Kotowa continues under the stewardship of Ricardo and his daughter. The farm remains a benchmark for modern Panamanian coffee production, balancing historical family expertise with contemporary scientific advancements. For roasters and consumers, the name Ricardo Koyner represents a standard of excellence in both agricultural practice and the pursuit of unique, high-quality flavor profiles.