We talk a lot about the importance of our relationships here at Servant, and ‘Vandaluz’ truly is the fruit of that core tenet. Los Volcanes Coffee (LVC) has been a supplier of ours since the beginning, and this coffee marks the evolution of what was already a solid and deeply appreciated relationship.

As operators of the Benefico la Esperanza wet mill in Antigua Guatemala, we’ve worked with LVC to source most of our Guatemalan and Brazilian coffees and see consistently excellent results from their dedication to quality, sustainability, and consistency. This coffee represents the next level of our relationship with LVC in that this coffee is the first harvest of the first farm owned directly by LVC and head honcho, Josué Morales.

Originally managed by long-time collaborator Rafael Zamora, who introduced high standards of processing and soil care, the LVC team took over the farm after his semi-retirement and picked up where Rafael left off. Per LVC’s Dan Griffin, “In terms of changes, we haven’t done too much. The main thing so far is that we actually fed the plants, and this was enough to cause a big jump in quality immediately. Loyren and her team have been making trips up the Volcano weekly and will be implementing a similar agricultural system to what they have at La Esperanza, Patzibir, and El Potrero. Better shade management, soil management, use of organic products we make, etc. At some point soon we will need to replant; the last idea was to plant more exotic varieties but it’s undecided at the moment.”

The first harvest immediately demonstrated the results of LVC’s improvements – healthier soil, stronger trees, and a more pronounced flavor profile. We get a bright and crisp green apple acidity right off the bat, followed by a hint of lychee and finishing with the balanced sweetness of baked pear. Given how much the LVC team’s improvements have already shown results, we can’t wait to see how this farm continues to evolve in the future.

Salud!