Panther Coffee - Specialty Coffee Roaster | Unpacking Coffee [Skip to content](#main-content) [ ![Unpacking Coffee Logo](/images/cuppin-logo.svg) Unpacking Coffee ](https://unpacking.coffee) [ Coffees ](https://unpacking.coffee/coffees) [ Roasters ](https://unpacking.coffee/roasters) [ Cuppings ](https://unpacking.coffee/cuppings) [ Recipes ](https://unpacking.coffee/recipes) [ Origins ](https://unpacking.coffee/origins) [ Log in ](https://unpacking.coffee/login) [ ](https://unpacking.coffee/login "Log in") [ Register ](https://unpacking.coffee/register) [ ](https://unpacking.coffee/register "Register") [ Roasters ](https://unpacking.coffee/roasters) Panther Coffee Panther Coffee ============== Panther Coffee is a Miami, Florida specialty coffee roaster founded in 2010 by Joel and Leticia Pollock, who arrived in Miami to bring world-class specialty coffee to a city already steeped in Cuban coffee culture. Headquartered in Wynwood, Panther sources directly from producers, roasts in small batches, and has helped define Miami's third-wave coffee scene. Watch Episode Read Transcript - [ Panther Coffee ](http://panthercoffee.com/) - [ Panther Coffee on Twitter ](https://twitter.com/panthercoffee) - [ Our full interview with Joel and Leticia Pollock ](https://unpacking.coffee/panther-interview/) - [ La Marzocco Café Roasters in Residence ](https://unpacking.coffee/tag/la-marzocco-cafe-roaster-in-residence/) ![Panther Coffee](/storage/roaster-profiles/161/featured.jpg) HELLO Ray: I’m Ray. Kandace: I’m Kandace. Ray: Welcome to Unpacking Coffee this week. Kandace: Panther, out of Miami. BACKGROUND Ray: Let’s actually back track a little bit. Kandace: Okay. Ray: It was founded by Joel and Letitia Pollack in 2011, so they’ve been around for five years. They just opened their third café. I know Joel from way back actually which is kind of funny. Kandace: How way back Ray? Ray: Joel and I used to work together at Stumptown and actually I have been to La Marzocco with Joel before (15 years ago) for an espresso machine repair training. Kandace: And he still agreed to meet with us? Ray: Yeah. INTRODUCTIONS Leticia: Leticia Pollack, co-founder of Panther Coffee Miami. Originally from Brazil. Joel: Joel Pollack, co-founder of Panther Coffee. Ray: We met up at the KEXP space where La Marzocco home is based, where the showroom is based in Seattle. Joel: We have the luxury of a one month residency at La Marzocco at KEXP and we’re going to be serving our coffee with the talented team here. Just sort of a collaboration with La Marzocco, incidentally our favorite espresso machine manufacturer in the world. COFFEE & MIAMI Kandace: They told us a really interesting story about one of the coffees that they’re serving this month. Ray: That’s right. Joel: Many of our relationships did start in the shop. The Finca Himalaya that we have here this month, this is a guy that was in the shop for a whole week with his wife, was wearing a polo shirt, Miami Dolphins, full turquoise. Never thought too much, but I noticed like I’d never seen that guy before. The Friday of the week that he was there, he came up and introduced himself as a producer of coffee. Leticia: Mauricio? Joel: Yeah, and he introduced himself and we were actually planning a trip to El Salvador the following month, so he’s from- Leticia: Ataco. Joel: He’s from Ataco, which is in Ahuachapán and we visited him. Coffee was fantastic and we bought like 80 bags from him, which is a nice place to start with a new relationship and I can’t imagine another place where that would happen, you know. A joke in the roasting department is hey I just found a guy that’s willing to sell his Colombian coffee, but it’s a good problem to have. Leticia: A lot of people from South and Central America love taking vacations in Miami, like it’s the entry door to the US and there’s Disney World which, myself, always wanted to go growing up. You have a lot of producers that come on vacation and stumbling on our … just researched, and they go visit us so we end up meeting a lot of producers, it’s very nice. Ray: Right. CHOOSING MIAMI Kandace: It is interesting because they met at SCAA, Joel and Leticia, and they traveled a bit in Brazil, worked a bit, and then both worked in Portland and coffee for a while and then moved to Miami and they chose Miami for some pretty interesting reasons. Leticia: Finished our business plan, we decided what we wanted to do and we had to chose a city, then we chose Miami after drinking a lot of wine, looking at a map on the wall by our tiny little table, the apartment in Portland, and Miami, who’s in Miami? No one’s in Miami. It’s impossible that no one’s in Miami. No one’s in Miami, let’s go to Miami. It’s impossible that no one’s in Miami. It’s a big city. Everyone loves coffee there. Why is no one in Miami? Went to Miami, there was no one in Miami. I mean there was a lot of coffee, a lot of coffee in Miami. People love coffee, but it’s Cuban coffee and a little bit of big chain presence, but no specialty coffee. Coffee carefully sourced, carefully roasted, carefully prepared, and specialty style right? We moved to Miami, we just flew back to Portland, packed everything and drove down from Portland to Miami. It was a scary drive because it was all snowy and weird. Ray: They know what they’re doing. They- Kandace: Well I mean Joel has been a roaster for years. Ray: Yes, a long time. Kandace: Yes, and so he is the founding roaster at Panther. Ray: He knows his shit. Can I say that? Kandace: You know, after last episode you can say whatever you want… Ray: Right in the gutter. TEAMWORK MAKES THE DREAM WORK Kandace: We asked them a bit about running a successful business as a married couple. Leticia: I much prefer working together than working apart. For the very short amount of time we worked apart in the beginning of our relationship was hard to like coordinate schedules and at least now we’re like okay, this week we’re taking a family vacation, so that’s it, we’ll all just agree on that, but one thing that really helps is having separate tasks, or separate responsibilities. That way Joel is head of wholesale, I’m the head of retail, and that keeps it simple and on the day to day. We don’t have to just … we don’t overlap that much, but we make decisions together when needs to be. Joel: I believe it’s more of a gift than it is a burden. Ray: Panther Coffee of Miami, Florida. Watch the Show https://vimeo.com/191549493 HELLO Ray: I’m Ray. Kandace: I’m Kandace. Ray: Welcome to Unpacking Coffee this week. Kandace: Panther, out of Miami. BACKGROUND Ray: Let’s actually back track a little bit. Kandace: Okay. Ray: It was founded by Joel and Letitia Pollack in 2011, so they’ve been around for five years. They just opened their third café. I know Joel from way back actually which is kind of funny. Kandace: How way back Ray? Ray: Joel and I used to work together at Stumptown and actually I have been to La Marzocco with Joel before (15 years ago) for an espresso machine repair training. Kandace: And he still agreed to meet with us? Ray: Yeah. INTRODUCTIONS Leticia: Leticia Pollack, co-founder of Panther Coffee Miami. Originally from Brazil. Joel: Joel Pollack, co-founder of Panther Coffee. Ray: We met up at the KEXP space where La Marzocco home is based, where the showroom is based in Seattle. Joel: We have the luxury of a one month residency at La Marzocco at KEXP and we’re going to be serving our coffee with the talented team here. Just sort of a collaboration with La Marzocco, incidentally our favorite espresso machine manufacturer in the world. COFFEE & MIAMI Kandace: They told us a really interesting story about one of the coffees that they’re serving this month. Ray: That’s right. Joel: Many of our relationships did start in the shop. The Finca Himalaya that we have here this month, this is a guy that was in the shop for a whole week with his wife, was wearing a polo shirt, Miami Dolphins, full turquoise. Never thought too much, but I noticed like I’d never seen that guy before. The Friday of the week that he was there, he came up and introduced himself as a producer of coffee. Leticia: Mauricio? Joel: Yeah, and he introduced himself and we were actually planning a trip to El Salvador the following month, so he’s from- Leticia: Ataco. Joel: He’s from Ataco, which is in Ahuachapán and we visited him. Coffee was fantastic and we bought like 80 bags from him, which is a nice place to start with a new relationship and I can’t imagine another place where that would happen, you know. A joke in the roasting department is hey I just found a guy that’s willing to sell his Colombian coffee, but it’s a good problem to have. Leticia: A lot of people from South and Central America love taking vacations in Miami, like it’s the entry door to the US and there’s Disney World which, myself, always wanted to go growing up. You have a lot of producers that come on vacation and stumbling on our … just researched, and they go visit us so we end up meeting a lot of producers, it’s very nice. Ray: Right. CHOOSING MIAMI Kandace: It is interesting because they met at SCAA, Joel and Leticia, and they traveled a bit in Brazil, worked a bit, and then both worked in Portland and coffee for a while and then moved to Miami and they chose Miami for some pretty interesting reasons. Leticia: Finished our business plan, we decided what we wanted to do and we had to chose a city, then we chose Miami after drinking a lot of wine, looking at a map on the wall by our tiny little table, the apartment in Portland, and Miami, who’s in Miami? No one’s in Miami. It’s impossible that no one’s in Miami. No one’s in Miami, let’s go to Miami. It’s impossible that no one’s in Miami. It’s a big city. Everyone loves coffee there. Why is no one in Miami? Went to Miami, there was no one in Miami. I mean there was a lot of coffee, a lot of coffee in Miami. People love coffee, but it’s Cuban coffee and a little bit of big chain presence, but no specialty coffee. Coffee carefully sourced, carefully roasted, carefully prepared, and specialty style right? We moved to Miami, we just flew back to Portland, packed everything and drove down from Portland to Miami. It was a scary drive because it was all snowy and weird. Ray: They know what they’re doing. They- Kandace: Well I mean Joel has been a roaster for years. Ray: Yes, a long time. Kandace: Yes, and so he is the founding roaster at Panther. Ray: He knows his shit. Can I say that? Kandace: You know, after last episode you can say whatever you want… Ray: Right in the gutter. TEAMWORK MAKES THE DREAM WORK Kandace: We asked them a bit about running a successful business as a married couple. Leticia: I much prefer working together than working apart. For the very short amount of time we worked apart in the beginning of our relationship was hard to like coordinate schedules and at least now we’re like okay, this week we’re taking a family vacation, so that’s it, we’ll all just agree on that, but one thing that really helps is having separate tasks, or separate responsibilities. That way Joel is head of wholesale, I’m the head of retail, and that keeps it simple and on the day to day. We don’t have to just … we don’t overlap that much, but we make decisions together when needs to be. Joel: I believe it’s more of a gift than it is a burden. Ray: Panther Coffee of Miami, Florida. Watch the Show https://vimeo.com/191549493 No coffee offerings have been added for this roaster yet. Log In to Cup Log in to your account Enter your email and password to continue Email address Password Remember me Cancel Log in Need an account? [Sign up](https://unpacking.coffee/register?intended=https%3A%2F%2Funpacking.coffee%2Fcupping%2Fnew%3Froaster_id%3D161) Log In to Cup Log in to your account Enter your email and password to continue Email address Password Remember me Cancel Log in Need an account? [Sign up](https://unpacking.coffee/register?intended=https%3A%2F%2Funpacking.coffee%2Fcupping%2Fnew%3Froaster_id%3D161) 0 Coffee Offerings 0 Total Cuppings Added 1 year ago Roaster Details Website [ panthercoffee.com ](https://panthercoffee.com) Established 2010 Location City Miami State/Province Florida Country United States Use filters or recent searches to refine your results. Press Esc to close. Filters 12 showing Users 0 Coffees 0 Roasters 0 Recipes 0 Explore featured coffees Start typing to search across the entire database. [ ### [ Mexico Maria Méndez ](https://unpacking.coffee/coffees/187-mexico-maria-mendez) by [ Heart Coffee Roasters ](https://unpacking.coffee/roasters/47-heart-coffee-roasters) Process Washed Varieties [Bourbon](https://unpacking.coffee/varieties/9-bourbon) Country [Mexico](https://unpacking.coffee/origins/mexico) Region Chiapas Elevation 1400m First noted Aug 19, 2026 Last tasted Aug 19, 2026 1 cupping [ plum](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/10 "plum") [ almond](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/37 "almond") [ cola](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/98 "cola") ](https://unpacking.coffee/coffees/187-mexico-maria-mendez) [ ### [ The Answer ](https://unpacking.coffee/coffees/186-the-answer) by [ Cat & Cloud Coffee ](https://unpacking.coffee/roasters/44-cat-cloud-coffee) Process Washed, Natural Elevation 1,100-1,900m Source Various First noted Aug 17, 2026 Last tasted Aug 19, 2026 2 cuppings [ chocolate](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/108 "chocolate") [ caramel](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/23 "caramel") [ fruit](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/250 "fruit") [ butterscotch](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/32 "butterscotch") [ berries](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/199 "berries") ](https://unpacking.coffee/coffees/186-the-answer) [ ### [ Nelson Flores ](https://unpacking.coffee/coffees/185-nelson-flores) by [ Sweet Bloom Coffee Roasters ](https://unpacking.coffee/roasters/201-sweet-bloom-coffee-roasters) Process Washed Species Arabica Varieties [Pacamara](https://unpacking.coffee/varieties/27-pacamara) Country [El Salvador](https://unpacking.coffee/origins/el-salvador) Region Chalatenango Elevation 1632m First noted Aug 16, 2026 0 cuppings ](https://unpacking.coffee/coffees/185-nelson-flores) [ ### [ Takele Mammo ](https://unpacking.coffee/coffees/184-takele-mammo) by [ Cat & Cloud Coffee ](https://unpacking.coffee/roasters/44-cat-cloud-coffee) Process Washed Varieties [Wild Heirloom Ethiopia Arabica Cultivars](https://unpacking.coffee/varieties/93-wild-heirloom-ethiopia-arabica-cultivars) Country [Ethiopia](https://unpacking.coffee/origins/ethiopia) Region Yirgacheffe Elevation 1800 - 2100m Source Takele Mammo Denbi First noted Aug 14, 2026 Last tasted Aug 14, 2026 2 cuppings [ rooibos](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/249 "rooibos") [ apricot](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/4 "apricot") [ dried strawberry](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/248 "dried strawberry") [ black tea](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/65 "black tea") [ watermelon](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/111 "watermelon") ](https://unpacking.coffee/coffees/184-takele-mammo) [ ### [ Juan Puerta Mango ](https://unpacking.coffee/coffees/183-juan-puerta-mango) by [ Resident Coffee Roasters ](https://unpacking.coffee/roasters/296-resident-coffee-roasters) Process Co-fermented and experimental (Mango) Varieties [Castillo](https://unpacking.coffee/varieties/13-castillo) Country [Colombia](https://unpacking.coffee/origins/colombia) Region Quindío Elevation 1386m Source La Sirena First noted Aug 11, 2026 Last tasted Aug 11, 2026 3 cuppings [ mango](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/15 "mango") [ mango lollipop](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/246 "mango lollipop") [ fruit rollup](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/245 "fruit rollup") [ jumex mango nectar](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/247 "jumex mango nectar") [ cream](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/86 "cream") ](https://unpacking.coffee/coffees/183-juan-puerta-mango) [ ### [ Fondo Paez ](https://unpacking.coffee/coffees/182-fondo-paez) by [ Amavida Coffee Roasters ](https://unpacking.coffee/roasters/294-amavida-coffee-roasters) Certifications Organic Country [Colombia](https://unpacking.coffee/origins/colombia) Source Fondo Paez Cooperative First noted Aug 09, 2026 Last tasted Aug 23, 2026 2 cuppings [ brown sugar](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/28 "brown sugar") [ apricot](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/4 "apricot") [ caramel](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/23 "caramel") [ black tea](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/65 "black tea") ](https://unpacking.coffee/coffees/182-fondo-paez) [ ### [ Santa Maria ](https://unpacking.coffee/coffees/181-santa-maria) by [ The Boy & The Bear ](https://unpacking.coffee/roasters/292-the-boy-the-bear) Process Anaerobic Natural Varieties [Tabi](https://unpacking.coffee/varieties/70-tabi) Country [Colombia](https://unpacking.coffee/origins/colombia) Region Santander Source Hacienda Cafetera La Pradera First noted Aug 09, 2026 Last tasted Aug 09, 2026 1 cupping [ black tea](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/65 "black tea") [ dried fig](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/138 "dried fig") [ dark chocolate](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/34 "dark chocolate") ](https://unpacking.coffee/coffees/181-santa-maria) [ ### [ San Antonio La Paz ](https://unpacking.coffee/coffees/180-san-antonio-la-paz) by [ Water Avenue Coffee ](https://unpacking.coffee/roasters/291-water-avenue-coffee) Process Washed Varieties [Caturra](https://unpacking.coffee/varieties/12-caturra), [Bourbon](https://unpacking.coffee/varieties/9-bourbon), [Castillo San Ramon](https://unpacking.coffee/varieties/100-castillo-san-ramon) Country [Guatemala](https://unpacking.coffee/origins/guatemala) Region Sierra de Las Minas Elevation 1200-1400m First noted Aug 05, 2026 Last tasted Aug 05, 2026 1 cupping [ orange](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/17 "orange") [ caramel](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/23 "caramel") [ black walnut syrup](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/244 "black walnut syrup") ](https://unpacking.coffee/coffees/180-san-antonio-la-paz) [ ### [ Ethiopian Kercha ](https://unpacking.coffee/coffees/179-ethiopian-kercha) by [ Cat & Cloud Coffee ](https://unpacking.coffee/roasters/44-cat-cloud-coffee) Country [Ethiopia](https://unpacking.coffee/origins/ethiopia) Region Guji First noted Aug 03, 2026 Last tasted Aug 03, 2026 1 cupping [ milk chocolate](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/33 "milk chocolate") [ cane sugar](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/29 "cane sugar") [ vanilla](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/27 "vanilla") [ strawberry ice cream](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/243 "strawberry ice cream") ](https://unpacking.coffee/coffees/179-ethiopian-kercha) [ ### [ Finca Santa Cruz Washed ](https://unpacking.coffee/coffees/178-finca-santa-cruz-washed) by [ Ritual Coffee Roasters ](https://unpacking.coffee/roasters/180-ritual-coffee-roasters) Process Washed Varieties [Typica](https://unpacking.coffee/varieties/34-typica), [Bourbon](https://unpacking.coffee/varieties/9-bourbon) Country [Mexico](https://unpacking.coffee/origins/mexico) Region Chiapas Harvest 2026 Source José And Karina Argüello First noted Jul 28, 2026 Last tasted Aug 04, 2026 3 cuppings [ chocolate](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/108 "chocolate") [ earl grey tea](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/242 "earl grey tea") [ citrus](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/110 "citrus") [ grapefruit](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/20 "grapefruit") [ lime](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/19 "lime") ](https://unpacking.coffee/coffees/178-finca-santa-cruz-washed) [ ### [ Gamaliel Ríos Ortíz ](https://unpacking.coffee/coffees/177-gamaliel-rios-ortiz) by [ Ritual Coffee Roasters ](https://unpacking.coffee/roasters/180-ritual-coffee-roasters) Process Honey Varieties [Peñasco](https://unpacking.coffee/varieties/99-penasco), [Typica](https://unpacking.coffee/varieties/34-typica) Country [Mexico](https://unpacking.coffee/origins/mexico) Region Chiapas Harvest 2025 Source La Concordia First noted Jul 21, 2026 Last tasted Jul 21, 2026 1 cupping [ peach](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/3 "peach") [ citrus](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/110 "citrus") [ caramel](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/23 "caramel") [ butterscotch](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/32 "butterscotch") ](https://unpacking.coffee/coffees/177-gamaliel-rios-ortiz) [ ### [ Finca Santa Cruz Natural ](https://unpacking.coffee/coffees/176-finca-santa-cruz-natural) by [ Ritual Coffee Roasters ](https://unpacking.coffee/roasters/180-ritual-coffee-roasters) Varieties [Geisha](https://unpacking.coffee/varieties/16-geisha) Country [Mexico](https://unpacking.coffee/origins/mexico) Region Chiapas Source Finca Santa Cruz First noted Jul 19, 2026 Last tasted Jul 19, 2026 1 cupping [ chilled red wine](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/240 "chilled red wine") [ lime](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/19 "lime") [ cacao nibs](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/241 "cacao nibs") ](https://unpacking.coffee/coffees/176-finca-santa-cruz-natural)