About This Coffee
Third-generation coffee producer José Argüello purchased Finca Santa Cruz in 2014. Located in La Concordia near the endemic forests of the Reserva de la Biósfera Triunfo Verde (Triunfo biosphere).
José learned a lot of what he knows about coffee from his father, a lifelong coffee producer and today, he and his sister, Karen, work together to produce and sell their coffees. Karen is in charge of finding a market for their coffees. They hope to open a café in Chiapas’ capital city, Tuxla.
José is also the director of CAFECO, a regional producer’s cooperative. The cooperative supports farmers in the region and helps them market their coffees and increase the prices they receive for their work.
Harvest & Post-Harvest
José is exacting in his processing methods. When he’s working on creating a new product, he carefully tests his processing methods to ensure his method is the best possible way to process that coffee. He starts with a batch of cherry and, beginning with the first hour of fermentation, he dries and cups a sample for each hour of fermentation, up to 200 hours. This means that José and his team cup up to 200 samples for each new product that they create. They use the cupping results to determine the best moment to stop fermentation and begin drying.
Cherry is selectively handpicked and processed on the farm. José pulps coffee and ferments it for 24 hours. Following fermentation, parchment is washed in clean water and laid on patios to dry. Parchment is raked frequently to ensure even drying. It takes approximately 14 days for parchment to dry.
About Bourbon
Bourbon is a specialty coffee darling known for its excellent cup quality and good performance at high altitudes. The variety is susceptible to the major diseases, which can make it difficult to grow. Bourbon traces its heritage back to Yemen. French missionaries introduced Bourbon from Yemen to Bourbon Island (now known as La Reunion) in the early 1700s. Bourbon takes its name from the island where it prospered. Bourbon has had a huge effect on modern coffee varieties as one of the major ascensions for many varieties grown across the world. Today, Bourbon is available in both yellow and red varieties.
Coffee in Mexico
Mexico is one of the largest exporters of certified Organic and Fairtrade coffees. Smallholders with less than 10 hectares compose a full 70% of Mexico’s coffee producers. Since the 1990s, producers have largely been successful at forming cooperatives that sell certified coffees and help them gain market access to garner higher prices.