First Light: Lamastus Family Estates Auction Cupping

Lamastus Cupping Event at Loveramics Taikwun Shop

Before the world wakes up, Mr.Wilford Lamastus makes his way toward Elida Estate, where the first light reaches the mountains of Boquete before anywhere else. At 2,100 meters above sea level, these rays touch the highest lot of Elida, a place that has produced some of the world’s most celebrated coffees for over 108 years. This year's Lamastus Family Estates Auction carried the theme「First Light」. Before the world wakes up, First Light begins its journey.Loveramics Taikwun Shop is honoured to be one of the Hong Kong stops on this journey.

From Panama’s equator to the Northern Hemisphere, Lamastus Family Estates auction coffees travel through eight cities — each with its own pace, people, and coffee culture: Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Hong Kong, London, Jakarta, Los Angeles, and Toronto. What unites them is the ritual of cupping: across oceans and time zones, professionals gather around the same bowls, sharing the first light of extraordinary coffee in one collective moment.This marked the third consecutive year that Loveramics Taikwun Shop hosted the Lamastus Family Estates Auction Cupping as one of the Hong Kong venues.

The 120‑minute cupping event at Loveramics Tai Kwun Shop was organised together with Panda Bear Express and the Lamastus Family Estates, including two sessions. The first was a 30‑minute Free Flow Coffee session, offering filter and espresso brews from selected auction lots of past years. The second was a 90‑minute Guided Cupping, featuring the 24 Geisha Auction Lots from the 2026 Lamastus Family Estates Auction. The line‑up included Geisha selections from Elida Estate, El Burro, Aguacatillo, Vuelta Centro, Aguacate, Torre, Loma Arriba, and Parque, processed across washed, natural, and honey methods. Each lot was assessed for clarity, complexity, and flavour profile under cupping standards.

Our brand-new 120ml cupping bowl supported the workflow. Designed for 6–7g doses, it allowed efficient sessions while conserving beans. Its stackable form kept tables organised, and the choice of black or white interiors provided flexibility for blind or open evaluation. We also specially designed matching lids for the new cupping bowls used exclusively in this cupping event, making it easier to mark and identify lots while improving workflow efficiency. Subtle yet precise in function, both bowl and lid reinforced the discipline of cupping without distraction.

Three years on, the Lamastus cupping has become part of our coffee calendar. For roasters, café owners, and enthusiasts, it offers direct access to auction coffees, benchmarking against world‑class lots, and opportunities to exchange insights on processing methods and flavour profiles.

We thank Mr. Wilford for conducting the cupping sessions, Panda Bear Express for their support, and all participants for contributing to the community. At Loveramics Taikwun Shop, this vibrant space continues to bring the coffee community together, sharing world‑class coffees with local professionals, fostering collaboration and knowledge, and always keeping quality at the center. We look forward to the next First Light, when we meet again at Taikwun.