Garrido Coffee Panama: The Family Behind the World's Rarest Coffee

By Juan Carlos Sosa | Boquete Coffee Traders

Garrido Coffee from Panama is one of the most awarded and least accessible specialty coffees in the world. A family-run estate in the highlands of Boquete since 1959, the Garrido family produces Geisha, Catuai, Caturra — and Mokkita, a variety so rare it exists at only one farm on earth. In this guide, we cover the Garrido story, their estates, the legendary Mokkita variety, and where to buy Garrido coffee online with delivery in 5 days.

Who Is Behind Garrido Specialty Coffee?

The Garrido coffee story begins in 1959, when Teodoro Garrido established the family's first coffee farm in Boquete, Chiriquí — Panama's most celebrated coffee-growing region. In the mid-1970s, Teodoro expanded by acquiring Mama Cata, one of the oldest coffee farms in the country, with roots dating back to 1911.

After Teodoro's passing, the business passed to his two daughters — Gissell and Liliana Garrido — along with their mother. Today they manage four family-owned estates across Boquete's most prized micro-regions: Cantera (El Palomar), Volcancito, Margarita, and Los Rosales. Between them, the farms grow Caturra, Catuai, Typica, Geisha, and the rare Mokkita variety at elevations ranging from 1,200 to 1,750 meters above sea level on rich volcanic soil from Volcán Barú.

The Garrido family oversees every step — from seed selection and cultivation to harvesting, processing, and roasting at their own facility, Garrido Coffee Highland. All coffees are 100% handpicked, processed using traditional wet-wash and natural methods with natural spring water, and dried on African beds and sun patios under intensive quality control.

Mama Cata — Where Garrido Coffee History Lives

Of all the Garrido estates, Mama Cata holds a special place. Originally established in 1911, it is one of the oldest coffee farms in Panama. The estate takes its name from Catalina Fitchet, wife of a previous owner. Located in the Alto Quiel micro-region of Boquete at 1,500–1,750 meters above sea level, Mama Cata sits in extraordinary company — neighboring world-famous farms like Hacienda La Esmeralda and Elida Estate.

But Mama Cata's greatest claim to fame is not its neighbors. It is the only place on earth where Mokkita grows — the variety that would go on to win back-to-back Best of Panama titles and be named the #1 coffee in the world.

What Is Mokkita Coffee? The World's Rarest Arabica

Mokkita is not just another specialty variety — it is a unique genotype of Coffea Arabica verified by World Coffee Research (WCR) that has not been found anywhere else in the world. The variety produces tiny cherries, similar to the ancient Mokka cultivar from Yemen, but with a flavor profile entirely its own.

The story of its discovery reads like coffee legend. Around 2005, José David Garrido was walking through the trees at Mama Cata, looking for unusual plants that might produce something exceptional. He found a single tree with unusually small cherries. A small sample was brought to Mamoru Taguchi — then president of the Specialty Coffee Association of Japan and coffee advisor to the Emperor of Japan — who immediately recognized its extraordinary quality.

The family began propagating the variety, eventually planting about 2 hectares (5 acres) at Mama Cata. Mokkita remains an exceptionally low-yielding plant, producing less than half the cherry of Geisha or Typica. The cherries are harvested in small batches and dried slowly over a month on raised African beds inside a greenhouse structure — a meticulous natural process that maximizes the fruit intensity in the cup.

What Does Garrido Mokkita Taste Like?

Mokkita delivers a cup unlike anything else in specialty coffee. The flavor profile features intense tropical fruit — mango, passion fruit, peach, and papaya — layered with rounded florals, bergamot, and hints of raw chocolate. The body is lush and syrupy with effervescent acidity and a long, flavor-laden finish.

When Coffee Review awarded the Mama Cata Mokkita 97 points — their highest score of 2021 — their blind assessment described it as "aromatically other-worldly, resoundingly juicy" with notes of "caramelized pineapple, aromatic orchid, pistachio, raw chocolate, oolong tea" and a "deep, syrupy mouthfeel."

If you think Panama coffee begins and ends with Geisha, Mokkita is the cup that will change your mind. You can try it yourself: buy Garrido Mokkita Coffee here.

Garrido Coffee Awards and Recognition

The Garrido family's commitment to quality has earned them a remarkable list of awards at the Best of Panama — the world's most prestigious specialty coffee competition — and beyond:

• Best of Panama 2020 — 1st Place, Traditional Natural (Mama Cata Mokkita, 91 points)
• Best of Panama 2021 — 1st Place, Varietal Natural (Mama Cata Mokkita, 93 points from 18 international jurors — highest ever for a non-Geisha variety)
• Best of Panama Auction 2021 — Mokkita sold at $400/lb, the highest price ever paid for a non-Geisha coffee at auction
• Coffee Review 2021 — #1 on the Top 30 Coffees of the Year (Mama Cata Mokkita, 97 points)
• Best of Panama 2025 — 3rd Place, Varietal category (Cantera Farm, 92.25 points)

The 2021 results were historic. For the first time, a non-Geisha variety took the top spot at Coffee Review's annual ranking — beating coffees from Ethiopia, Hawaii, Yemen, Colombia, and even other Panama Geishas. The auction price of $400/lb set a world record for any non-Geisha coffee from any origin.

Garrido Geisha — Mama Cata's Other Treasure

While Mokkita gets the headlines, the Garrido family also produces exceptional Panama Geisha from the same Mama Cata estate. Grown at 1,500–1,750 meters on volcanic soil enriched with minerals from Volcán Barú, washed with natural spring water, and dried on African beds, Garrido Geisha delivers an elegant floral aroma, bright citrus acidity, jasmine and stone fruit notes, a silky mouthfeel, and a sweet, lingering finish.

Most Garrido Geisha production goes to buyers in Asia, making it exceptionally rare in North America. At Boquete Coffee Traders, we are currently the only online store shipping Garrido Geisha and Mokkita internationally.

Where to Buy Garrido Coffee Online

Garrido Specialty Coffee is rarely available outside of Panama and select Asian markets. At Boquete Coffee Traders, we work directly with the Garrido family to bring their coffees to you — delivered worldwide from Panama in 5 days via FedEx or DHL. Free shipping on orders over $70.

Three Garrido coffees are currently available:

• Garrido Mokkita — 135g ($67) — The world's rarest Arabica. Natural process, whole bean. Intense tropical fruit, syrupy body, raw chocolate undertones. Best of Panama 1st Place 2020 and 2021.
• Garrido Geisha — 228g ($64) — Single-origin Mama Cata Geisha. Washed process, whole bean. Elegant florals, citrus, jasmine, stone fruit. Rarely available in North America.
• Garrido Farms Blend — 455g ($45) — A washed specialty blend from Garrido's Boquete farms. Everyday drinkability with estate-level quality.

Browse the full Garrido Specialty Coffee collection, or explore more Panama coffee from other legendary estates like Kotowa, Finca Lérida, and Gran Del Val.