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Overview

For four generations Finca San Jose has embodied the force, faith and hope of a family of coffee producers. In 1815 Jose Maria Rodriguez and Josefina Rodriguez planted the first coffee trees with their own hands. Through the generations, the farm has passed through the hands of many committed farmers, beginning with Israel Rodriguez who, followed by Jose Maria Rodriguez cared for the farm until the most recent owner, Gloria Mercedes Rodriguez Fontan, took over. Ever the strong woman, Gloria has overcome gender barriers in an industry that has historically been the province of men and continues to personally supervise the process of cultivation.
The mountain slopes of Finca San Jose are shaded by trees that help maintain and preserve the crop and the surrounding environment. In addition to the multitude of plants, the farm is home to a variety of wild animals and birds that can be seen in their natural habitat.
More than 7 families (and growing!) live on the farm earning their livelihood from working the land. There are 10 full-time workers and many more seasonal workers who aid in the harvest process. In total, between 60-75 people work on the farm.
This is the third consecutive year that San Jose has participated in the Cup of Excellence, always reaching the stage of the international jury. This year, with great faith and a strong belief in the quality of their product, the farm won with a sample taken from an 8.4 hectare area.
On Finca San Jose, coffee goes through an extensive process of quality control in addition to being grown under standards that qualify it as specialty coffee. The farm is located at an altitude above 1,400 meters (above sea level) and the coffee is 100% Bourbón cut at the peak of its ripeness and grown in organically rich clay soil. The people who cut the coffee have extensive experience and share a commitment to growing a superior quality coffee as owner Gloria Rodriguez personally supervises every stage of the process.
Gloria considers the principal reason behind her success to be her faith, not only in her coffee but also in the Cup of Excellence. She believes that the reputation and prestige of the event will allow her to stand out in international markets and the economic benefits will allow her to reinvest in the farm, impacting the people who toil in the fields and maintain the quality of the production chain from seed to cup. Gloria hopes to be able to generate and maintain a long-term relationship with her buyers and from this relationship she hopes to be able to reap benefits for everyone.

Other Statistics:

Coffee varieties: Bourbón
Type of Shade: Pepeto, inga sp, and other native trees
Average Annual Rainfall: 2,500 mm
Average Temperature: 17º C
Type of Soil: Clay loam
Annual Production: (60kg) 160 bags
Mill and company where lot was process: Beneficio Santa Rita, Ing. Jose Antonio Salaverria y Co. de C.V.
Fauna: Armadillo, gray fox, agouti, pocket gopher, magpie, turquoise, etc.

GPS Coordinates:

Latitude: N 13º 52’ 52.3’’
Longitude: W 89º 48’ 24.5’’