Kotowa Coffee was established in 1918 by Canadian immigrant Alexander Duncan. The name "Kotowa" comes from the indigenous Ngäbe-Buglé language, meaning "mountain," reflecting the estate's breathtaking highland location. 

Today, the estate is managed by Alexander Duncan's descendants, with Richard Koyner, a member of the Duncan family, playing a key role in its operations. Richard, whose mother was a Duncan, has continued the family tradition, ensuring the estate's reputation for producing high-quality specialty coffee remains intact.

This lot is from Silvia Marina. Acquired in 2017, the land bore the marks of years of intensive onion and potato farming—its soil stripped of nutrients and its ecosystem severely degraded. From the start, they committed to a long-term regeneration journey, launching a seven-year project to restore soil health and biodiversity. They began by reintroducing tall native canopy trees and planting low-shade tree lines to rebuild the microclimate. Slowly, moisture returned to the soil. Then came the birds—once absent, now nesting— and wildlife began to make its way back. Life was returning. After seven years of patient recovery, the land gave the first sign of renewal: coffee flowering in 2024, followed by the very first full harvest in 2025. The farm was named Silvia Marina, in honor of the second generation of Kotowa: Ricardo’s mother, who lovingly cared for her father's coffee plantation after his passing. Her legacy of resilience and dedication continues to inspire everything they do.

Ply and Rogue Wave Coffee had the incredible opportunity to visit the Kotowa Duncan Estate, where we were blown away by the complexity and care that went into every coffee the farmers produced. This year, Rogue Wave is thrilled to return, hoping to reconnect and source Geisha lots that truly capture the depth and character of the terroir. 

Recommendation: 
Resting time: 3-4 weeks
Filter brew: 1:16-16.5, 92c