Finca El Mirador is located in one of the most remote areas in Huehuetenango. The Lopez family have been growing coffee in this area for approximately 38 years. Back when they started cultivating coffee, there were no roads around this region and they had to transport the coffee on horses and mules for 3 days to get it to the nearest town in order to sell it. We witnessed first hand the rugged roads of Huehue during our trip with Primavera coffee earlier this year. Getting around in 4WD trucks was hard enough especially up at the lofty heights of San Antonio Huista up at over 2000m.

At the beginning, they did not give the coffee the care and attention it now receives. It was seen as a crop, and with the passage of time, it became a passion for the new generation. In the 1990’s Huehuetenango started to become a region of interest to specialty coffee buyers for the high acidity and complex cup profile and subsequently has become one of the most recognisable growing regions in Central America. In 1999, El Mirador won a prize for their quality, it was this event that motivated them to strive for better agricultural practices and wet milling techniques. With better pruning, fertilisation, shade management, they continue learning and implementing what they've learned.

Our import partner Primavera coffee have been working closely with the Lopez family for a number of years and have assisted in modernising the wet-mill, building drying patios and raised drying beds. Jose Lopez Is Primavera's head of operations in Huehuetenango and runs their 'bodega' (collection station), where parchment is delivered and initial QC checks are performed by his team. 

When we were given the chance to buy Jose's coffees we jumped at the chance. The energy and knowledge he had would convince anyone that his coffees would be excellent.