u r t o r y
Longboard was born from a spirit of adventure. A young surfer arrived in Panama more than two decades ago, drawn by waves, wilderness, and a love of tropical ecosystems. With a background in Natural Resource Management and a lifelong fascination with flavour, he found himself captivated by the Geisha coffee plant – and the journey began.
The name Longboard reflects that origin: the blend of tradition and innovation, flow and precision, simplicity and elegance. Like longboard surfing, our approach to coffee is both instinctive and intentional. We work with time, not against it.
Our Story
o w I t A l e g a n
A parallel passion for wine has shaped our philosophy. Each year, we spend time in wine country, learning from the growers and cuppers who have mastered the art of expressing terroir. Great wine, like great coffee, is about nuance. And nuance doesn’t come quickly – or easily.
We believe in cultivating coffee with the same deep relationship to land and climate that a surfer has to the ocean: reading the wind, the weather, the cycles of the earth. This is not just farming — it’s a spiritual pursuit.
AWARDS
o u i g o m e o f T h e W o r l d s M o s t R e c o g n i z e d C o f f e e
crafts people
e u K y P o p l e
Longboard is a small team led by founder Justin, who still manages every aspect of the process — from planting and pruning to roasting and cupping. He personally hand-prunes each farm several times a year, harvests alongside his team, and roasts in the Longboard Lab.
There are no middlemen here. Every decision is made with intention, every batch is crafted with care. Behind each cup is not just a producer, but a team of farmers, harvesters, and craftsmen who share a deep respect for the land and the coffee it yields.
Founder & Owner
u s t i n B u d m a n
Justin Boudeman is the founder of Longboard Specialty Coffee, a boutique organic coffee producer in the mountains of western Panama. A lifelong explorer and conservationist, Justin approaches coffee production through an entirely unconventional lens—focusing not on yields, but on flavour, terroir, and harmony with nature. After earning a degree in Natural Resource Management with a focus in Tropical Studies, he moved to Panama in 1996 to surf and explore, eventually settling in Boquete in 2000, where his passion for coffee took root.
Justin pioneered a proprietary, chemical-free farming method known as Wildynamic, using wild yeasts and natural fermentation to express the full potential of the Geisha varietal. His farms, including the acclaimed Misty Mountain, are planted without cutting a single tree and reflect his commitment to preserving wild land.
In addition to farming, Justin is a national judge for the Best of Panama coffee competition, a passionate taster, and a dedicated traveller with a deep love of wine, writing, and surf culture. His work with Longboard represents the fusion of these passions—crafting coffee as expressive and nuanced as fine wine.
Milestones
e w D c a d s o f H i s t o r y
1996
Panama Calls
Justin Boudeman arrives in Panama at age 23, drawn by a love of surfing and the natural world after earning a degree in Natural Resource Management.
2000
The Coffee Spark
After years exploring Panama’s remote coastlines, Justin settles in Boquete, where his fascination with coffee begins to take root.
2005
The First Farms
Justin begins converting his first two farms, Fennario and Windy Ridge, from traditional chemical farming to his unique organic method focused on soil health, flavour expression, and sustainability.
2013
Misty Mountain is Born
With two helpers, Justin starts carving Misty Mountain from untouched cloud forest—hand-clearing land while preserving all large trees and planting Geisha varietals into virgin soil without a single chemical.
2018
International Recognition
In its first-ever harvest, Misty Mountain’s Geisha places 6th in the Best of Panama Geisha Natural category with a score of 92.25 pts, later selling at auction for $101/lb.
Present
The Spirit of Longboard
Now spanning three farms in different regions of Boquete, at elevations of 1550–1800m, Longboard continues to produce some of the most expressive Geisha coffees in the world using its pioneering Wildynamic method—farming in harmony with nature and cosmic rhythms.
sustainability
i n d f u l n s s o f t h e E n v i r e t
While the industry trends toward process-driven coffee, we stay committed to terroir. Our goal is not to impress with fermentation or force boldness – it’s to let the bean speak for itself.
At Longboard, we treat terroir as our foundation – not something to manipulate, but something to reveal. Each of our three farms sits at a different elevation and faces a different direction, creating dramatically unique conditions for flavour to emerge.
