Wicho Valdés
We’re proud to present this washed SL28 from Wicho Valdés as part of our Prime series. It’s an exceptional coffee that we’re thrilled to have secured this year. Our excitement grew even more when we learned it was accepted into the prestigious ‘Cup of Excellence’ competition! With vibrant blackberry notes, sweet papaya, and a hint of rose hip, this refreshing coffee truly lives up to the gold on the label.
Wicho grew up helping his father on the farm and fell in love with coffee at an early age. After studying agronomy, he returned to Santa Isabel in 1998. Today, Wicho has three children who also spend their weekends and school holidays on the farm. "I hope they will find a love for coffee like I did."
The Valdés family deeply cares about the environment and has set aside nearly a third of the farm, 88 hectares, as a forest with cedar, pine, and mahogany trees that protect water resources and promote biodiversity. The remaining 200 hectares of the farm are dedicated to coffee production, with a wide range of coffee varieties planted alongside Inga trees, common in Guatemala, which provide shade and improve soil quality. Wicho also uses a systematic pruning approach that enhances ventilation and light, reducing fungal diseases like coffee leaf rust and the need for treatments.
Since late 2021, Santa Isabel has reduced the use of chemicals and non-organic materials. Wicho has established a lab on the farm to create natural solutions that make the coffee trees more resistant to diseases. Thanks to this, he no longer uses pesticides and has halved the use of fungicides. The coffee trees are now healthier, and the quality is expected to improve even further. During 2024, only 10% of the trees showed signs of coffee leaf rust, compared to 30% the previous year.
After harvesting, the coffee is pulped and fermented for up to 14 hours. It then goes through a washer to remove any remaining fruit. Next, it's graded by weight using channels and soaked in clean water for 24 hours. The beans are sun-dried for 7–10 days until they reach 30% humidity. After that, they are moved to a greenhouse for 15–30 days to finish drying on raised beds.
Origin: Cobán, Guatemala
Producer: Luis "Wicho" Valdés
Farm: Santa Isabel
Altitude: 1600 m.a.s.l
Variety: SL28
Process: Washed
Flavours: A refreshing coffee with bright blackberry flavours, sweet papaya and rose hip
This coffee is a part of our Prime series, and is the top tier of specialty coffee. These coffees are of unmatched quality and flavour and drinking them is an experience itself. Sourced only 3-4 times a year, our Prime coffees are extremely limited and highly coveted, with only around 200 bags available of each.
These coffees are often of exclusive and rare varieties and produced using modern and innovative methods. For those seeking the ultimate coffee experience, our Prime series is sure to satisfy even the most refined palates.
We offer four different coffee series, from House where the flavours are more familiar, to Prime which offers the absolute top tier of specialty coffee quality.
The House seriesis the foundation we stand upon, featuring specialty coffees from some of the 15 producers we work with closely, all among the best in the world. Each coffee offers a unique blend and flavour profile, and with such variety in the series, we dare say there’s a taste for (almost) everyone. To follow the harvest seasons, we rotate the origin and recipe throughout the year. This ensures the coffee is always fresh, the flavours consistent, and the cup truly delightful! In this series, you’ll find various espresso and filter coffees, both as whole beans and ground.
The Flavours series is where we truly elevate the natural flavours of each coffee. Most of the coffees are single origin, but as the contents of the product change with harvest seasons, occasionally a blend might better suit the r profile. Flavours is perfect for those seeking an exceptional cup where the coffee’s unique taste and character truly gets to shine!
The Farmers series. is a tribute to the skilled and dedicated producers which we have a close relationship with. For this series, we purchase limited quantities of specific lots that really stand out when we taste them. It could be the variety or a specific part of the farm that truly brings out the best in the coffee. The flavours of these coffees are often sweet and floral, with hints of fruit or berries, broadening the horizons on what coffee can taste like. It is with a lot of pride we highlight our producers and their incredible craftsmanship.
The Prime series is the top tier of specialty coffee. These coffees are of unmatched quality and flavour and drinking them is an experience itself. Sourced only 3-4 times a year, our Prime coffees are extremely limited and highly coveted, with only around 200 bags available of each. These coffees are often of exclusive and rare varieties and produced using modern and innovative methods. For those seeking the ultimate coffee experience, our Prime series is sure to satisfy even the most refined palates.
We specialize in specialty coffee, which means that all the coffee we purchase scores at least 80 points on a 100-point scale – a grading system established by the international coffee organization SCA.
We hold high standards for the producers we work with, both in terms of sustainability and quality. Both aspects demand more and come at a cost, which we gladly pay. The right price is worth every cent!
10 years or more – that's how long we have been working with several of our producers. Simply because they are the best, and we know and trust each other. When we begin new collaborations, which also happens from time to time, we do so with the intention of celebrating 10 years and beyond with them as well. Our close and longstanding relationships are built on a shared philosophy and a desire to improve the conditions for coffee farmers worldwide. Through sustainability and quality!
