Since the late 1800's, three generations of the Ruiz family have been dedicated to the traditional coffee varieties and shade growing methods characteristic of excellent coffee flavor and wildlife preservation. What was once a single farm in Boquete, Panama is now a family owned and operated coffee crafting enterprise in Panama that not only grows coffee but also processes the green coffee beans as well as roasts and packages. In addition to our farms, over three hundred small-scale family farms partner with Café Ruiz to process, roast and market their shade grown coffee. We are located in Boquete, Panama.

Much of the coffee in the world is grown using the monoculture technique of clearing the land by cutting all the trees and planting high production hybrid coffee varieties. Café Ruiz and its partner small-scale family farms choose the environmentally friendly, shade grown technique; coffee that is grown beneath trees. While shade-grown coffee does not produce as high a yield, the combination of shade trees and coffee plants provides several advantages:

• The use of chemicals is greatly reduced or eliminated.

• Migratory and resident bird habitat is provided.

• The trees provide a natural food supply for birds and beneficial insects.

• The traditional, more flavorful, non-hybrid and shade loving coffee varieties, known as Typica, can be grown.

• The tree canopy provides mulch for the coffee.

• There is reduced erosion.

• Biodiversity is maximized.

To consistently supply the highest quality coffee, only the ripe, red coffee cherries are picked. Café Ruiz dries and sorts the coffee beans by cultivation altitude, coffee variety (Typica or hybrid type), bean size and bean quality. Each batch of coffee is then labeled and stored.

We are dedicated to crafting the most consistently flavorful coffee possible, to maintaining a healthy natural environment and to the survival of the family farm.

Copyright © 2007 Casa Ruiz S.A. All rights reserved.