La Familia: Our new single origin espresso from Ecuador.
We are really excited to introduce this single origin from Ecuador, and the story behind it.
Flavour profile
Expect a cup with marmalade sweetness, smooth dark chocolate, finishing with a soft honey aftertaste. It makes the perfect breakfast brew!
Background
In Latin America, coffee is typically produced by families, especially when they are small-scale farms. The newer generations, the sons and daughters of coffee growers, usually grow up on their family farms, always surrounded by coffee. In the highlands, where coffee is grown, the family unit and teamwork will always be the most important factor. With this limited edition we want to acknowledge those families in coffee culture who work together, that are united, where each member plays an integral role on the farm to produce outstanding coffee; where every family member is engaged and involved in the process.
Family ventures and a strong unit is also of paramount importance to start a business that will eventually transcend from generation to generation creating a legacy and tradition. For these families that we want to highlight, it is the love for coffee that prevails through generations and creates strong family bonds and stronger coffee businesses.
La Familia backstory
The Mayo Family has been involved in coffee production for several years, with the patriarch purchasing their first piece of land around 1980. Now, the fourth generation of the family is still engaged in coffee production but with their own farms. The third generation consists of eight siblings: Jose, Wilman, Vicente, Napoleon, Ilda, Melecio, Irma, and Gloria. They inherited the noble craft and love for coffee from their father, Juan, whose own father was also a coffee farmer. Coffee played a vital role in supporting their parents and providing for the family. It all began when their parents, seeking a better future, found and acquired approximately 200 hectares of land in the township of Playas de las Pircas in the canton of Chinchipe. Initially, they started with conventional coffee production, selling it as "bola," a type of natural coffee in Ecuador without a focus on quality.
From a young age, all the siblings were involved with the farm and coffee production, learning from the process. As time went on and they grew older, Jose, the eldest, began learning about the washed process and specialty coffee. He started implementing changes at the farm that led to improved earnings. Over time, each of the siblings acquired their own farms, either through inheritance from the initial large farm or by purchasing parcels of land. The majority of their farms are located in the township of Playas de las Pircas in the canton of Chinchipe, while two of the brothers have farms in the township of Guaramishal in the canton of Palanda.
The family has implemented agroforestry systems at their farms, incorporating shade trees such as guabos and porotillos. They are mindful of the environmental impact and actively employ environmentally friendly practices. A visit to their farms also reveals an incredible amount of flora and fauna diversity, as well as a focus on protecting water sources. Some of them even keep bees to assist with pollination and produce honey as a by product. The family members maintain a good relationship and communication, often coming together to share their experiences from their farms and coffee. During harvest time, they support each other in case of a shortage of cherry pickers or any other specific needs. Additionally, they receive visits and technical advice from a technician regarding processes, drying, farm management, and more.
As a family, they take pride in knowing that their father's last name, Mayo, has reached other countries. They are confident that the hard work the family has put into coffee production will be appreciated, and they are committed to improving and producing ever improving high quality coffee.
To buy La Familia, click here.
