Guatemala – Magnolia

Don Santiago is the backbone behind much of this lot. We had the pleasure of meeting Don Santiago, dining in his house, and touring his beloved coffee farm in early 2023. Over the years, he has dedicated the majority of his harvest to these lots, which takes a lot of faith particularly in this high market season. He actively believes in the mission of the cooperative and has gone out of his way to support our (Collaborative Origins) relationship with COSAMAJ. This level of commitment and dedication is heavily seen in his lands and in the way his cherries are harvested.

Since 2019, Don Santiago has gotten the chance to meet 5-6 of the coffee roasters who roast his coffee. These opportunities have helped change the perception he has when harvesting cherries. Instead of the unknown abyss, he now has a mental picture of the people who will eventually buy his coffee. It’s this picture that motives him to do an even better job. For him, being able to invest into these relationships signifies a better future for his 5 kids, who will eventually follow in his footsteps.

More about the lot…

Lote Magnolia receives its name from a geographical region of Jilotepeque called Las Magnolias. As COSAMAJ, they liked the idea of separating out lots by the various geographical regions in Jilotepeque, which is where the other names (Canajal, de Medina, and El Sapito) come from as well.