Merlin Escalón, Finca La Mora

However, I have known Cafesmo since its beginnings because my family lives across the street from the company's facilities.

In fact, most of my family works at Cafesmo! My father is in charge of drying the coffees and my mother takes care of the nursery where the seeds for the new plants are grown.

My brother Maynor travels around the region on his motorcycle to visit Cafesmo members. He studied agronomy in college and now advises farmers on how to prevent pests and diseases and how to meet certification standards, such as organic and fair trade. My sister Yaimi is our Q-grader's assistant in the lab. If you've ever tried one of our samples, chances are she prepared it for you!

And me? Well, I work with the founder of Cafesmo, Hidardo, and his mother on their farm. I've been doing it for four years and my responsibilities have grown a lot since I started.

During harvest season, I oversee the drying of all the microlots and ensure that each batch is dried until it's ready for storage and preparation. This is the most important aspect of my job, as the quality of each coffee depends heavily on the consistency and care with which it's dried. Hidardo is a great help and supervises the entire operation, but I've already learned so much working alongside him.

That's also why my family decided to start growing coffee on our own plot of land. Together, we know every aspect of coffee cultivation, from caring for a seed to brewing a good cup. Our plot is very small, but because we can grow one or two high-quality batches each year, we can diversify and increase our income, and build a better future together.

Furthermore, the land is in a superb location, very resistant to climate change. It sits at 1,450 meters. High enough to avoid the heat, but not so high that it gets too cold at night during the winter months. Moreover, it's nestled in a beautiful pine forest, so we planted the coffee among the trees, which provide shade, nutrients, and stable soil that isn't prone to erosion. You should come and visit us to see it for yourself.