Cafetalera Río Cochea, initially founded in 1998, with more than 20 years of experience, has dedicated itself to traditional Panamanian coffee production. Later on, in 2017, Cafetalera took on new leadership, implementing a new business model and vision that seeks to challenge and elevate the specialty coffee industry.
We welcomed a group of Panamanian and Colombian coffee professionals on board, and along with them, a new brand – Creativa Coffee District. Our forward-thinking specialty coffee project was made possible by transforming the traditional wet mill and drying patio into a modern, state-of-the-art processing facility. CCD integrates art and specialty coffee in a unique and authentic space where artists are promoted and celebrated to inspire industry participants worldwide to support and demand new coffee production standards that guarantee higher incomes for growers and sustainable ecological practices for processing stations worldwide.
We build relationships with top producers in Boquete, Hornitos, and Renacimiento, purchasing just-harvested, perfectly ripe coffee cherry from people and organizations that inspire us. Through this model, we are provided with exceptional raw material for our micro and nano lot fermentation processes.
We separate our offerings into two categories: Traditional Varieties and Exotic Varietals, each with its own Reserve Series subcategory for truly remarkable selections.
Our wet mill wasn’t always dedicated to the fusion of art and coffee, but it has long been a key location for coffee production in Panamá. When it was initially founded on July 10th, 1960, it quickly became one of the epicenters of coffee production for the country, producing up to 15% of the entire production, and played a significant role in creating the thriving industry we see today. Today, this rich history is that we carry forth using art to bring the story of the individuals and the cultures that this space holds. Honoring the traditions by viewing them through the artistic lens is essential to inspire unity in this beautiful industry.
By seeking new expressions of historic spaces, we intend to create an environment open to experimentation, discourse, and above all else – creation.
