Merlin Escalón Farm La Mora

Hey, I’m Merlin Escalón and I only became a member of Cafesmo in 2023.

However, I’ve known Cafesmo since it started because my family lives across the street from the Cafesmo facilities.

In fact, most of my family works at Cafesmo! My dad is in charge of drying coffees and my mom takes care of the nursery where they grow new seedlings for coffee trees. 

My brother Maynor rides his motorbike all over the region to visit Cafesmo farmer members. He studied agronomy in high school and now gives advice to help farmers avoid plagues and diseases, and get them certified with organic and fair trade and other labels.  My sister Yaimi is the assistant of our Q-grader at the lab. If you have ever tried one of our samples, chances are that she prepared it for you!

And me? Well, I work with the founder of Cafesmo, Hidardo, and his mom at their farm. I have been doing that for four years now and I have grown a lot in responsibilities since I first started.

In the harvest season, I oversee the drying of all the microlots and make sure that each lot is dried until it is ready for storage and milling. This is the most important aspect of my job as the quality of each coffee of course in large part depends on how consistently and carefully it is dried. Hidardo helps me a lot and supervises the entire operation, but I have learned so much, working alongside him.

This is also why my family decided to start growing coffee on our own parcel. Together, we have knowledge of every aspect of growing coffee, from how to nurse a seedling to how to prepare a great cup. Our parcel is very small but because we are able to grow one or two high quality lots each year, we can diversify and increase our income, and build a better future together.

The land is at a great location too, that is very resistant against climate change. It’s at 1,450 meters. High enough to avoid heat, and not so high that it can sometimes get too cold at night during the winter months. Also, it’s in the middle of a precious pine forest so we planted the coffee amidst the trees, which provide shadow, nutrients, and a stable soil that isn’t prone to erosion. You should come and visit to see it with your own eyes!

Farm Facts

0,7 hectares located at 1,450 meters

Only Parainema varietal

Certifications pending