About This Coffee
Finca Las Mercedes has been in the Alburez family since 1832 when Francisco Alburez purchased the property. At the time, the main crops on the farm were corn and black beans. Francisco’s daughter, Maria Alburez de Ortega married Manuel Ortega y Carrascal and together they operated the farm. Their son, Carlos Ortega Alburez inherited and managed the farm from the age of 16 and, seeking ways to improve the farm, planted the first coffee trees in 1912.
After an earthquake in 1976, landslides isolated the area from the outside world, and destroyed the main house and church on the farm. In 1981, Carlos and his wife, Balbina, had to abandoned the farm and seek refuge from internal conflict. In 1996, they returned to the farm and began cultivating coffee once again. Today, their children and grandchildren continue to uphold the Alburez family’s vision of high-quality production. They farm Bourbon, Pache and Typica on their land. This lot is Pache, a variety known for its good cup quality potential and high yield.
Cultivation
Pache is a natural mutation of Typica first discovered in Guatemala. It is smaller than its Typica parent and has good cup quality potential and a high yield. Pache is susceptible to most major diseases and is known for its large cherries and leaves.
Harvest & Post-Harvest
Ripe, red cherry is picked and processed on Finca Las Mercedes. Once picked, ripe cherry is fermented for 12 to 24 hours and then pulped. Coffee is fermented in fermentation tanks for another 18 to 36 hours and then washed in clean water. Parchment is laid on patios to sun dry. The high altitude of the farm means it takes longer to sundry. Parchment is raked frequently to ensure even drying.
Coffee in Guatemala
Guatemala boasts a variety of growing regions and conditions that produce spectacular coffees. Today, the country is revered as a producer of some of the most flavorful and nuanced cups worldwide. We are proud to work with several exceptional in-country partners to bring these coffees to market.
The Guatemalan coffee industry experienced a major setback with the 2010 appearance of Coffee Leaf Rust (CLR) in Latin America. The epidemic peaked in severity in 2012, and though CLR continues to affect some farms, Guatemala continues to produce high-quality, record-breaking coffees. In 2017, new and varied processing methods pushed prices at the Guatemalan Cup of Excellence contest to record highs.
The quality of coffee being produced in Guatemala is increasing, overall, due to the diversity of the industry’s producers. There are more and more small holder farmers producing exceptional coffee at high altitudes. Cooperatives are becoming more appealing to so many smallholders because they often offer farmers financing and other support for improving their farming and processing and are frequently able to offer higher prices for cherry than middlemen. Many cooperatives have initiated quality improvement training for farmer members and are becoming more adept at helping members market their coffee as specialty.