Guatemala Francisco Morales N°328

For over 40 years, Francisco Morales and his wife have been the proud owners of La Esperanza Farm in Los Cipresales. Nestled in the rolling hills near the town of San Antonio Huista, in the Huehuetenango region of Guatemala, they have achieved great success. Like any venture, starting the farm came with its challenges in the early years. However, through hard work, dedication, and the commitment of the family, the business has grown from strength to strength; providing income for the household as well as employment for many others in the surrounding area.

As you can imagine, coffee production is very important to the family and to the people of the region, and the name of the farm reflects this. When translated to English, it means "The Hope."

Francisco is constantly looking to learn and grow as a coffee producer. His eagerness to hear from others, learn from their experiences, and try new approaches on the farm knows no bounds. This endless curiosity and commitment to improving his coffee processing methods have earned him several prizes in the Huehuetenango Highland competitions. This year, he chose to dry the parchment under shade nets - a technique aimed at improving the gradual drying process, enhancing flavour, and prolonging shelf life.