Don Elmer Pacamara

The story of Don Elmer and his Finca Los Pinos

Nestled in the Santa Bárbara region of Huehuetenango, Guatemala, Finca Los Pinos is a model of best practices and commitment to specialty coffee. This farm, which covers 11 hectares at an altitude of between 1,800 and 2,250 meters above sea level, is dedicated to the care of Don Elmer, a coffee grower with over 30 years of experience. The Pacamara, Caturra, and Bourbon varieties are grown here, with Pacamara being the most notable.

Coffee processing at Los Pinos follows the washed method, carried out with meticulous attention to every detail. The cherries are fermented in nylon bags for 36 hours in the shade. They are then sorted in water tanks to remove defects and unripe cherries before being pulped. The beans undergo a second fermentation, this time in tanks, which lasts between 15 and 30 hours depending on the weather.

Finally, the grains are washed in channels and dried in patios for 16 days, with frequent turning to ensure uniform drying.

The legacy of Don Elmer and the Vides family

Don Elmer has dedicated more than three decades of his life to coffee and has been collaborating with the Vides family for 20 years. For the past decade, he has managed Finca Los Pinos and oversees the processing at his own mill, ensuring impeccable traceability and quality. Each harvest day for him begins at 4:00 a.m., ensuring that each batch of coffee is treated with the utmost care.

The Vides family's coffee history dates back to 1958, when Jorge Vides founded Finca La Bolsa. Currently, Juan José Ariano, owner of Vides58, leads the coffee export business with over 20 years of experience. His mother, María Elena Vides, oversees quality control and is actively involved in coffee projects led by women. The new generation is also involved: Juan's children, business students, contribute to coffee processing and quality control.

Santa Barbara: A Coffee Paradise

Santa Bárbara, located just 30 minutes from the city of Huehuetenango, is renowned for its ideal coffee-growing conditions. With altitudes ranging from 1,600 to 2,400 meters above sea level and iron-rich soils that have barely been exploited agriculturally, this region offers a unique environment for producing high-quality coffees. The Vides family plans to expand by acquiring even higher lands within this region.

Finca Los Pinos not only produces coffee, but also tells a story of tradition, dedication, and vision for the future. Every cup that comes from this farm is the result of generations of effort and passion for coffee.