Ana Vizcaino, Finca Esperanza, Guatemala - Honey Processed

Honey, dark chocolate, dried fruit. Smooth. Medium body.

Our third offering from Finca Esperanza is this light honey CIMA fermented coffee grown and processed by Ana Vizcaino at her farm Finca Esperanza near Zunilito, Guatemala. For the honey process, the coffee cherries are depulped, innocuated with yeast and then transferred, with the mucelage (sticky flesh of the cherry) on the seed, to Ana's solar drying house where the seeds are carefully dried on raised beds.

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.

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 has been too costly to maintain; 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.  

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.