The Story

Finca Santa Maria is one of our most recent Direct Trade partners. During our visits to the farm, we have always been impressed with the level of commitment to sustainability and quality. On top of the farming initiatives, the thing that impresses us most about the farm is the family values. To Armando, the most important thing is the relationship. He stressed the importance of passing on his passion for coffee farming to his children and the benefits of a strong relationship with us, the buyers. Good management goes well beyond producing great coffee, it is about coming together with enriching experiences, family and friendship.

The growing conditions at Finca Santa Maria and the Nariño region are very unique. With its long hours of sunlight and hot springs, coffee trees are able to grow in higher, colder altitudes. This leads to a bean that we value for its greater level of sweetness and acidity. We had the opportunity to visit Santa Maria in late June during their harvest. Armando walked us through the farm with his family. He showed us the recent innovations they have been implementing on the farm, such as irrigation, traditional processing methods and the introduction of new varietals.