About This Coffee
On their drive to their farm, Rosma, Fredy Milton Morales and his father would stop at a nearby bridge and enjoy a cup of coffee while enjoying the beautiful view. In 2015, they had the opportunity to buy the farm where they stopped to enjoy the scenery and they jumped on the chance to specialize their farms by planting unique varieties on each lot. They named the farm Cascada Encantada to commemorate the gorgeous view they always enjoy. It's no surprise they're Cup of Excellence winners, their dedication to producing high-quality coffees is evident in every lot. This coffee is elegant with a delicate citrus acidity and notes of red berries.
Cultivation
The high altitudes of 1,800 to 1,995 meters above sea level create the ideal warm days and cool nights to promote sweet, dense cherry growth. In addition to the Typica in this lot, Fredy and his father also grow Geisha, Pacamara and Bourbon on their farm.
Harvest & Post-Harvest
Cherry is selectively handpicked and placed in bags where it lightly ferments for 24 hours. Then, cherry is washed in clean water and floated to remove any under- or over-ripes. Cherry is laid on raised beds to sundry for 5 to 6 days before being moved to parabolic beds for 20 to 23 days more. Cherry is raked frequently to ensure even drying.
Rosma Coffeelands
Rosma Coffeelands was founded by Fredy Morales, son of Alejandro Morales. Alejandro purchased the family farm in 1963 and cultivated coffee there. Fredy took over the farm in 1980 and renamed the farm Rosma after his wife, Rose Mary.
In addition to the coffee he produces on Finca Rosma, Fredy works with his neighbors, friends and family to cultivate and source high-quality coffees that are traceable to individual family farms. Rosma acts not only as an exporter but also as a resource for farmers looking to improve production. They have a seedling nursery so farmers can access high-quality seedlings that are also more Coffee Leaf Rust resistant. They also provide refinancing credit for farmers and health and medical assistance.
Since 2022, sales of Rosma coffees in Europe, Middle East and North Africa have supported Coffee Kinder, an on-farm childcare center for the children of farm workers. At Coffe Kinder, children can play and learn safely during the harvest while their parents work. This reduces child labor and makes it possible for both parents to work, increasing incomes for laboring families and increasing the labor force for the harvest.
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.