Guatemala, El Tambor, Filter

Guatemala

REGION: Palencia

FARM: El Tambor 

VARIETAL: Bourbon Catuai 

PROCESSING: Washed

ALTITUDE: 1676 - 1860 masl

PRODUCER: Victor Calderon

El Tambor is a Guatemalan coffee farm owned by Victor Calderon, a 5th generation coffee farmer who bought the 700-hectare property in 2001. He sold his house and car to purchase it, aiming to transition from Robusta to high-quality specialty Arabica production at elevations above 1,500 meters.

Victor developed an innovative, eco-friendly solution to combat coffee leaf rust using white clay from old mining excavations mixed with minimal copper-based fungicide, applied to the underside of leaves. This alkaline solution effectively kills the fungus within 3 days while being safe for workers and the environment.

The farm operates sustainably with 8 permanent workers who have their own vegetable plots (10% of farm land), while nearly half the farm remains protected forest. Coffee is processed in small microlots of about 22 bags, using an energy-efficient small pulper. Traditional farming practices dominate, with manual weed control and limited chemical use.

Victor has also purchased nearby farms for his two children (La Pia and El Mezcal), all gaining excellent reputations. El Tambor has placed in Guatemala's Cup of Excellence, with the family goal of all three farms winning in the same year. Future plans include planting rare varieties like Amarello and Pacamara, plus expanding infrastructure for workers.

CROP YEAR: 2025

We taste hazelnuts, toffee and pear