Finca La Hermosa

The story

Finca La Hermosa was established in 2010 or 2011 by Max Pérez, a fifth-generation coffee farmer from Huehuetenango, and his wife, Claudia Abril. The couple, who met while studying law, purchased an abandoned 320-hectare property on the slopes of the Acatenango volcano that lacked basic infrastructure like water and electricity. Since its founding, they have transformed the land into a productive farm and in 2015, Max organized the La Hermosa cooperative to support neighboring producers.

Challenges

The founders started with an abandoned parcel that lacked electricity and water and rebuilt it into a productive specialty-coffee farm.

Innovations

A trial plot holds more than 30 rare varieties. For the February 2024 Gesha release, the farm separated honey and natural components: two-day anaerobic honey fermentation and 30-day whole-cherry raised-bed drying, later roasted together.