Gerson Elí López, Farm La Lima

Around seven years ago I worked with the Neumann Foundation and that’s how I first met Hidardo Hernández, the founder of Cafesmo.

At Neumann, I was in charge of providing technical assistance to coffee farmers in our region: teach them good practices, water and soil management, shade techniques, quality and yield improvement.

But I have been involved in coffee ever since I was a child. My grandmother had a bit of land, as well as my mom. So, even when I was little, I worked to help my family pick and clean coffees, and in 2011 I started cultivating coffee on the 2,5 hectares of land that I own myself.

As the proceeds weren’t enough to feed my family,  I decided to take the job that Neumann offered me. This was a great decision because apart from really liking what I did and sharing my knowledge with farmers and friends, I also gained new skills that I could apply to improve the quality of my coffees.

This is why a few years ago now I was able to dedicate myself entirely to my own coffees. Although I still only own 2,5 hectares of land, I am now able to grow much better profiles and this also considerably improves my income. 

My son and daughter, both still very young, often join me when I go to the finca during the weekends. We play there together, and I tell them about coffee, about our family, about how my grandmother grew coffee decades ago. So, they also learn while we play. 

I do not aspire to become a large land owner, I rather focus more on quality improvement and on preserving the 2,5 hectares that I already own. And I would love for roasters to come and visit us. It’s important, I think, that they can see first-hand where their beans come from, and also that they can see with their own eyes how much work and hardship is put into each lot before it reaches its final destination.

Farm Facts

2,5 hectares at 1,450 meters.

Main varietals are parainema and anacafé 14.

Shadow provided by local trees, also fruit trees like plantain, ‘nance’, lemon.

Fairtrade, organic, and RA certified.