Santa Isabel

Santa Isabel Estate is a 300-hectare farm in Guatemala’s Alta Verapaz department – a mountainous growing region with a cool climate, dense rainforest and high rainfall. The Valdés family has been farming here since 1875, and the estate is now run by fifth-generation producer Luis ‘Wicho’ Valdés.  

Wicho is fastidious in every aspect of his coffee production. He continuously invests in farm improvements to further enhance coffee quality, and to better care for and preserve the area’s natural environment. In addition to dedicating almost a third of the estate to natural reserve, he has begun to embrace more organic and biodynamic farming practices. 

In recent years, through the application of natural micro-organisms to the coffee trees, Wicho has managed to eliminate all use of pesticides and most of his fungicide use. This progressive approach has led to healthier, more resilient trees that produce deliciously distinct and wonderfully complex coffees.  

• Region: Coban
• Country: Guatemala
• Variety: Caturra
• Processing: Washed