The best specialty coffee shops in Panama City

In 2004, the Peterson family at Hacienda La Esmeralda noticed that one small lot of Geisha from their farm in Boquete tasted completely different from the other coffees they were growing.

They entered it into the Best of Panama competition. And it won.

That changed coffee.

Buyers started paying attention. Producers planted more Geisha. Roasters chased tiny Panamanian lots. Competition baristas put Panama Geisha on world stages. Cafés built tasting menus around coffees most people had never heard of.

Twenty years later, Hacienda La Esmeralda made headlines again. At the 2025 Best of Panama auction, a 20kg washed Geisha lot sold for US$30,204 per kilogram, setting a new world record for the highest price ever paid for coffee.

That is the point of Panama. It doesn’t produce the most coffee. It produces something else entirely. Influence.

Which is why Panama City is such a fitting host for World of Coffee 2026. From 23–25 October, the global coffee industry will gather at the Panama Convention Center for the first ever World of Coffee event in Latin America.

These are the coffee shops to check out while you’re in town.

Café Unido

For years, Panama’s best coffees left the country. Roasters in Japan, Europe, and the US bought extraordinary lots while many Panamanians had limited access to the same coffees grown a few hours away in Chiriquí. Café Unido changed that. They opened in 2014 with a simple idea: Panamanians should be drinking great Panamanian coffee too. The Coco del Mar location is the one I would prioritise.

Sisu Coffee Studio

Sisu belongs to the family behind Lamastus Family Estates, producers of coffees from Elida Estate, one of the names competition baristas and green buyers have talked about for years. If you want to understand why people obsess over Panama Geisha, this is where you should go. Specifically, the Casco Viejo location.

Leto Coffee Brew Bar

Leto‘s Obarrio location has the kind of clean, calm design that makes you want to stay longer than planned. Ask for a a pour over. And stay for breakfast.

Mentiritas Blancas

Some coffee places keep pastries as a token. Some brunch spots serve specialty coffee as decoration. Mentiritas Blancas does both to the highest standard. It’s the kind of place you pop in for a coffee and end up staying for food. Go the Vía Argentina location.

Cabrera Coffee Brew House

Cabrera‘s Vía Argentina location is a filter brewing paradise. Think AeroPress, Chemex, siphon, French press, V60-style filters, nitro cold brew and more. It was the first specialty coffee shop in Panama Oeste.

Altieri Specialty Coffee

The Altieri family grows coffee in Boquete, in the Chiriquí highlands, and has spent years building a reputation for Geisha, Typica, Catuai, and Caturra. Their coffees have earned recognition in Best of Panama competitions and regularly appear on roaster menus well beyond Panama. Sample their offerings in any one of their three Panama City coffee shops: Co:Coffee by Altieri in Costa del Este and Calle 50.

Pulpa Specialty Coffee

Roasting since 2023, Pulpa is a Panamanian boutique coffee roastery, café, and coffee experience space in Panama City. Its focus is clear: small-batch roasting, Panamanian coffees, and a direct connection to local producers.

Give yourself another day

Don’t treat Panama City like a stopover. Because the city gives you something rare. Access to one of the world’s most influential coffee origins without needing to leave the city.

You can taste coffees tied to famous producers in the morning, eat pastry at Mentiritas Blancas for lunch, sit through a Geisha tasting later in the afternoon, then finish the day in Casco Viejo.

And that’s worth visiting the city for more than just the show.

FAQ

What are the best specialty coffee shops in Panama City?

The best specialty coffee shops in Panama City include Café Unido, Sisu Coffee Studio, Leto Coffee Brew Bar, Mentiritas Blancas, Cabrera Coffee Brew House, Kokoma Specialty Coffee, Geisha Experience, and Pulpa Specialty Coffee – Roastery & Coffee Lab.

What is the best coffee shop in Panama City for first-time visitors?

If it is your first time in Panama City, start with Café Unido. It gives you one of the clearest introductions to Panamanian coffee and usually has a rotating menu that shows how varied coffee from Panama can be beyond Geisha.

Where can I try Panama Geisha coffee in Panama City?

Sisu Coffee Studio and Geisha Experience are two of the strongest places to try Panama Geisha in Panama City. Sisu offers access to coffees connected to Lamastus Family Estates, while Geisha Experience focuses on structured tastings designed to help visitors understand why the variety became so influential.

Is Panama City worth visiting for specialty coffee?

Yes. While Boquete gets most of the attention, Panama City has developed a strong specialty coffee scene with cafés connected to producers, roasteries, Geisha tastings, and neighbourhood coffee shops that locals actually spend time in.

Why is Panama famous for coffee?

Panama is famous in specialty coffee because of its high-quality producers, Best of Panama auctions, experimental processing, and the global rise of Panama Geisha. Although Geisha originated in Ethiopia, Panama helped turn it into one of the most sought-after coffees in the world.

When is World of Coffee Panama 2026?

World of Coffee Panama 2026 takes place from 23–25 October 2026 at the Panama Convention Center in Panama City. It will be the first World of Coffee event held in Latin America.

Should I visit Boquete or stay in Panama City for coffee?

If you have time, do both. Boquete offers access to farms and coffee-growing regions. Panama City gives you easier access to cafés, tastings, and coffees from many of the country’s best producers without needing to leave the city.