Ana Vizcaino, Finca Esperanza - Washed, Guatemala

Toasted almond, molasses, candied lemon, nutty. Smooth . Medium body.

This delightful washed and CIMA fermented coffee is grown and processed by our good friend Ana Vizcaino exclusively for Contrabean at her farm Finca Esperanza near Zunilito, Guatemala. Finca Esperanza is named for Ana Vizcaino's great grand-mother. Connected to the farm is a private natural reserve, La Morenita. La Morenita translates into "a beautiful dark-haired and/or dark-skinned girl". We buy the coffee direct from the farm through Two Birds Coffee, the distribution company run by Ana's "Two Birds", Pancho and Diego. Anamaria, Ana's daugher is responsible for operations in Guatemala including coffee exportation.

This coffee is very special for CONTRABEAN as it represents a coffee we have been buying since from our first trip to Origin. In February 2017, Jude and I spent a wonderful 4 days on the farm. We explored the farm and the nature reserve, and toured the region visiting a number of old, traditional, and new, modern coffee mills. Two Birds was in the process of building their own wet mill at the farm so that they could have greater control over the milling process, and ultimately the quality of their coffee. Each year since then, their coffee has been getting better and better.

Coffee farming in this part of Guatemala dates back to the mid-1800s. When Ana and her family inherited the farm from Ana's Dad, they began the journey towards organic certification. After many years of hard work they received their organic certification prior to the 2015/2016 harvest. Regretably, the administrative costs associated with the organic certification was too costly to mainatin; however they maintain their organic practices. They received the Bird Friendly certification in 2016.

La Esperanza also has MAYACERT "Con Manos de Mujer" (With Hands of Women) certification. This protocol promotes social responsibility, product quality and gender equity.The farm collaborates with women, providing work opportunities and training and working with their communities on socio-economic and environmental initiatives. With each year, their dedication and hard work has resulted in nicer and nicer coffee. This years coffee is really good. 

The farm property includes around 225 acres of land, but only 120 of those acres are actually cultivated for coffee. The remaining acres are maintained as a private natural reserve. The 120 acres of cultivated land has shaded coffee as well as bananas and beehives. Currently, the average yield is 100,000 pounds of green coffee a year.

The farm and nature reserve are located south of the Antigua region of Guatemala in Zunliito, Suchitepequez along the dormant volcano, Volcan Santo Tomas. The locals call this volcano Cerro Pecul. The land, 1400-1600 meters above sea level, is alive, fertile, and produces some amazing coffee. There are two spring fed rivers on either side of the farm, La Cal and Chita, which supply hydro electric power and water to the farm. The farm receives an average annual rainfall of around 7 metres.