Solitude Espresso
Our seasonal espressos each come with their own story, which is part of what makes them so special. Here we take a closer look at the producers behind this coffee.
The Origin
Guatemala is home to some exceptional coffees. A quarter of the population are in some way involved with growing or processing coffee. Situated in the rich volcanic region of Antigua, in the Department of Sacatepequez, near the Municipality of Santa María de Jesús is Finca La Guadalupe, the source of this lot of coffee.
The Farm
In 1965, Emilio Dalponte and his family moved to Guatemala from El Salvador in search of a better life. The family decided the highlands of Antigua would be an ideal place to settle in order to begin growing crops. A plot of land was purchased in 1970, and was originally named El Aguacate, or The Avocado, in Volcán de Agua. Over time, Emilio acquired land from his neighbours and built what is now Finca La Guadalupe. The name for the farm came from the day Emilio’s brother was born, December 2nd, the day of the Virgin of Guadalupe.
Coffee was easy to grow in this region at the time, so the family thrived. Emilio II, son of Emilio, even started his own coffee roasting business called ‘Coffee 1, 2, 3,’ which was so successful, he was able to sell coffee internationally. He carefully separated the lots of the farm based on altitude and began to efficiently produce specialty coffee.
Ernesto took over after his father, Emilio II, passed away and realized the struggles of running a coffee farm. Coffee prices were dropping, and water was difficult to come by during dry months. Yet, Ernesto powered on, determined to carry on his father and grandfather’s legacy in Guatemala.
Exporters, Los Volcanes, have been working with Finca La Guadalupe for six years, supporting them with their farming endeavours. They have helped improve the farm’s traceability and overall cup quality to assist with increasing income.