Graciano Cruz
We’ve worked with Graciano Cruz for more than two decades, and his coffees continue to surprise us year after year. This Yellow Catuai is lively, fruit-forward and expressive – with juicy pineapple, tropical sweetness and smooth dulce de leche. A coffee with clear character, plenty of energy, and that distinct “Graciano touch” you recognise instantly.
There are producers who always bring a smile to our faces – and for us, Graciano Cruz is definitely one of them. We’ve collaborated with him since the early days of Johan & Nyström, and his coffees are as much personality as they are product. This year’s Yellow Catuai from Los Lajones is exactly how we love it – sweet, vibrant and full of his unmistakable energy.
COFFEE FACTS
Producer: Graciano Cruz
Origin: Boquete, Panama
Farm: Los Lajones
Altitude: 2000 m.a.s.l.
Variety: Yellow Catuai
Process: Natural
Flavours: Tropical coffee with juicy pineapple and smooth dulce de leche
Graciano Cruz
Los Lajones is a place you simply don’t forget. Perched over 2000 metres up the slopes of Volcán Barú, the farm is surrounded by forest, mist and rich volcanic soil. It feels more like a small nature reserve than a traditional coffee farm.
Graciano bought the farm in the early 90s and quickly became a pioneer of natural processing in Panama. While many producers were still working almost exclusively with washed coffees, Graciano chose his own path and created fruit-forward, expressive profiles. Today, his coffees are known worldwide for their personality and clear signature.
When we discussed how to describe this year’s harvest, we quickly returned to the same truth as always: Graciano’s coffees are special. They vary more than many others from one year to the next, but always in a way that feels curious and alive. Sometimes wilder, sometimes cleaner – but always full of character. That’s precisely what has made Yellow Catuai from Los Lajones a long-time favourite for us.
Roast Profile
Roasting Graciano’s coffee is a bit like being handed a palette of tropical colours and deciding how they should land in the cup. Naturals grown at this altitude come with a lot of built-in energy – fruit, sweetness and that soft, sun-warmed depth.
Filip chose a medium-light roast profile, with a quick early heat pulse to open up the fruit and a gentle finish to highlight the smooth dulce de leche sweetness. This year’s coffee is cleaner than some previous harvests, yet still full of the tropical character we’ve become so fond of. It has a generous sweet spot and is as easy to brew as it is to enjoy.
Graciano is more than a producer to us – he’s a friend and an important part of our history. For over two decades we’ve followed him and Los Lajones, and this year’s Yellow Catuai is yet another beautiful example of why his coffee always stands out. Warm, tropical and unmistakably his.
Exceptional coffee starts at the origin. The Farmers series is a tribute to the skilled and dedicated producers which we have a close relationship with. For this series, we purchase limited quantities of specific lots that really stand out when we taste them. It could be the variety or a specific part of the farm that truly brings out the best in the coffee. The flavours of these coffees are often sweet and floral, with hints of fruit or berries, broadening the horizons on what coffee can taste like. It is with a lot of pride we highlight our producers and their incredible craftsmanship through the coffees in the Farmers series.
We have four different coffee series. From House where the flavors are more family, to Prime that offers the absolute top of special coffee quality.
House is the foundation we stand on and here we offer specialty coffee From some of the 15 producers we work closely. Everyone is among the best in the world. Each coffee in the series has its unique mix and taste profile. Thanks to the width of the series, we dare say that there is a taste for (almost) everyone. We vary origin and recipes to follow the harvest periods that vary during the year between different parts of the world. This way we make sure that the coffee is always fresh, the flavors the same and your cup really good. In this series you will find several different espresso and brew coffee. Whole beans and ground.
Flavours Is all about lifting the natural flavors in every coffee. The contents of the bag change in line with the harvest periods that vary during the year in different parts of the world. Most coffee is single Origin, but sometimes we can feel that a mixture is what is best in line with the coffee's taste profile. Flavours is perfect for those who are looking for an exceptional cup. A cup that really accentuates the unique taste and character of the coffee.
Farmers is a tribute to the skilled and dedicated producers. With most people we have long and close relationships. We buy limited quantities of specific tickets that distinguished themselves in our tastings. It may be the variety, or a specific part of the farm that really got the best in the coffee. The flavors of these coffee are often sweet and floral with hints of fruit or berries. They broaden the views about how coffee can taste. It is with pride that we highlight our producers and their fantastic crafts.
In the series Prime we offer the spearhead of specialty coffee. The quality and taste is unbeatable and it is often an experience in itself to drink one of these coffee. We release them only 3-4 times a year, making the coffee in the series extremely rare and very sought after. We only have around 200 bags at a time! These coffee is often of an exclusive variety, produced by modern and innovative methods. For those looking for the ultimate coffee experience, we dare to guarantee that the Prime series will satisfy even the most sophisticated taste preferences.
We specialize in specialty coffee, which means that all the coffee we purchase scores at least 80 points on a 100-point scale – a grading system established by the international coffee organization SCA.
We hold high standards for the producers we work with, both in terms of sustainability and quality. Both aspects demand more and come at a cost, which we gladly pay. The right price is worth every cent!
10 years or more – that's how long we have been working with several of our producers. Simply because they are the best, and we know and trust each other. When we begin new collaborations, which also happens from time to time, we do so with the intention of celebrating 10 years and beyond with them as well. Our close and longstanding relationships are built on a shared philosophy and a desire to improve the conditions for coffee farmers worldwide. Through sustainability and quality!
