Happy Camper

Guatemala: MAX PEREZ has become a well-known and regarded name in Specialty coffee in Guatemala. His certified Organic farms, fincas La Hermosa and Mama Cata sit in the high Acatenango valley in Chimaltenango, tucked between volcanoes. The slopes of Volcán de Acatenango provide the perfect growing conditions for excellent coffees. High altitudes, nutrient and mineral dense soils, steady annual rainfall, and a temperate climate make an ideal micro-climate for exotic varieties.

Max began farming in Acatenango in 2010, but his legacy in coffee cultivation goes back 4 generations. After taking many trips to different growing regions in search of the perfect micro-climate and growing conditions, he found them in Acatenango, on one of the highest plots of land in the region. Here, the Perez family quickly divested the land into strategic subplots and planted exceptional varieties throughout. By 2018, La Hermosa was already winning international awards in the Cup of Excellence. 20 Workers live and work on the farm during harvest season.

Kenya: Situated at the foothills of Mt. Kenya, Karani Factory lies in the Kabare area of Gichugu Division, approximately 112 km northeast of Nairobi. It is part of Kirinyaga County, whose name is derived from the Kikuyu word for Mt. Kenya “the crest of whiteness”, referencing the mountain’s snow-capped peaks.

Established in 1998, Karani is one of 10 wet mills operated by the KABARE FARMERS’ COOPERATIVE SOCIETY. Today, 600 smallholder members deliver cherries to the factory, jointly cultivating around 134,000 coffee trees over a combined 175 hectares. Most farmers manage plots smaller than one hectare.

The factory processes mainly SL28 and SL34, Kenya’s most celebrated varieties. The region’s volcanic soil, cool climate, and altitude ranging from 1,550 to 1,600 MASL, foster optimal growing conditions. Cherries are hand-harvested and fully washed at the factory, ensuring a bright, clean, and complex cup profile typical of the region.