Lost Origin is a Panama City-based coffee processing lab founded in January 2023 by Frans Zeimatz and Andy Typalos. The company distinguishes itself by applying techniques inspired by craft beer brewing to specialty coffee beans. This involves experimenting with microbial fermentation to unlock new and exciting flavor profiles in coffee. Their facility is located above a craft brewery, Casa Bruja, allowing them to merge brewing's collaborative spirit into coffee processing.
Lost Origin sources unprocessed cherries from Panamanian coffee farms, including Alteri Coffee, Café Don Benjie, and Finca La Estrella, transporting them to their lab in refrigerated trucks to maintain quality. They utilize custom fermentation vessels and controlled drying rooms to meticulously shape each bean's flavor. In their first year, Lost Origin achieved 7th place at Best of Panama. Just a year after launching, coffee processed by Lost Origin was used by Martin Wölfl to win the 2024 World Brewers Cup. Franz Zeimetz is the CEO of Lost Origin Coffee Lab.