José Mauricio Rivera, Finca El Encinón and Cuevas

Now, I am a third-generation farmer and I grow coffee near my home, at an altitude of 1,500 meters.

The varieties have changed, too. My grandfather grew six-meter-tall trees we called "Indian Coffee," while I grow Caturra and Paca beans. These are small, rust-resistant plants that offer consistent quality and a considerably higher yield.

I'm also fortunate to have six daughters and three sons who can help during the harvest season. It's incredibly difficult, and unaffordable, to hire people for several months during the harvest season.

We are a close-knit and happy family, sharing both the burden and the rewards. My children usually focus on the coffee drying and preparation processes, while I feel more at ease on my farm, under the cool shade of the trees. It's where I grew up, and I'm sure it's where I'll die someday.

But I hope the end is still many, many years away, as I am a very happy man and I love my life and my work. I also have many dreams I still want to fulfill. For example, improving my wet processing, which in turn will allow me to further improve the quality and consistency of my micro-batches.

And I'd love to be able to save enough money to replace my roof, as there are a few small leaks that let water into the house during the rainy season. Once I've established more stable and lasting relationships with some toasters, I'm sure I'll be able to work more sustainably.