Sourcing

Two grandparents and a grandson, the story of El Aguacate

Gonzalo and Susana, after more than 65 years of marriage, decided to plant coffee on their farm in Loja. With love and dedication, they transformed "El Aguacate" into a prestigious and beautiful tourist attraction. In 2018, their grandson Pablo joined the project, modernizing production and enabling their high-quality coffee to be exported to several countries. Today, "El Aguacate" continues to grow with passion and excellence, offering its visitors a unique experience.

Location: Loja, Ecuador

Altitude: 2100 m (6900 ft)

In the mountains of Quilanga, Loja, the Jaramillo family has been cultivating coffee since 1965, when the current producer's grandparents planted the first seedlings at Finca El Alisal. In 2017, the new generation took up that legacy and elevated it by modernizing processes, incorporating science and technology, and translating the Loja terroir into cups with their own unique character.

Climate change demanded a rethinking of production. Today, the farm works with agroforestry systems, soil conservation, and conscious water management. At the same time, the team is delving deeper into controlled fermentations so that each variety expresses its best version in the cup.

El Alisal has been recognized among the best coffees in Ecuador, reaching the Top 10 in the Cup of Excellence and the Top 5 in the Golden Cup. Furthermore, it generates local employment with decent working conditions and provides training for young people in the area, and serves as a learning space for producers from Quilanga.

San Pedro is a majestic and unique place. Angélica Albertina has lived here her entire life. She never married, as she cared for her parents until their final days. The youngest of eleven siblings, she has devoted herself with great effort to tending her 1.5-hectare farm, which she always kept filled with fruit trees and some coffee plants.

She lived for many years alongside her eldest sister Lucrecia and brother-in-law Edilberto, helping organise the coffee buying when they travelled, and also looking after her nieces, nephews, and grandchildren. Everyone calls her Tía Betty with great affection, but for Ximena she is like a mother — they have lived together for some years now, and she is grandmother and great-grandmother to all of Ximena's children. She lights up our days with her smile, stories, jokes, and riddles.

Ever the sharp mind, she decided to plant more coffee on the farm — specifically Típica Mejorado, Bourbon Sidra, and 2,000 Gesha plants.

Together with Ximena and the team, she tends the farm, and of course she is always sorting coffee when she isn't at her classes for older adults. She loves coffee and adores spending time on the farm, staying active and radiant at 84 years old.

Finca Cofradía is a premier specialty coffee estate located in Catacocha, Loja, Ecuador. Managed by producer Richard Alvarado, the farm is a key member of the Loja Specialty Coffee Route, focusing on high-altitude varieties like Typica and Sidra that consistently achieve specialty-grade cupping scores.The estate is unique for integrating advanced technology with agrotourism. It operates a professional dry mill equipped with optical and density sorters, providing processing services for the local region. For visitors, the farm offers immersive tours that cover the entire coffee lifecycle—from the harvesting of cherries to professional brewing methods like V60 and Chemex.Beyond traditional beans, Finca Cofradía is known for its innovative product line, which includes portable drip bags, coffee-infused craft beers, and specialized liqueurs. Their mission combines high-end agricultural production with a commitment to educating the public on Loja’s rich coffee culture.

La comarca is a family Farm established almost 100 years ago for the production of cow meat and cow´s milk. In its origins it was known as the famous Panama hacienda. The ranch also was used for the production of coffee, sugar cane, citrus and fruits. It was the first farm in the city of loja to have electricity, thanks to a hydraulic system with a Pelton pump. With the passage of time, it began to close its operation due to migration of people from the countryside to the city and other problems because city started to grow drastically and left the farm in a Valley called Malacatos 20 minutes from downtown Loja. Now, 4th generation family members started with the specialty coffee world. Their first harvest of sidra was in 2021 and is ready. 2022 harvest is getting ready and there will be more developed coffees.

It all started a few years ago. We are dreamers that put our-hands to hard work. We have been coffee lovers since ages, and finding good coffee has been a challenge for us in Ecuador.

As a couple, Ligia Merizalde and Leopoldo Andrade, are the hands behind this green land. Together with a big native crew, they have developed what La Josefina is at the moment, a place to find unique coffee.