#CAFFE LADRO FULL#

We grabbed our bags and jumped into a shuttle, which literally drove across the street to our hotel. This day started just like every coffee buying trip: early! We woke at 4:00am, went straight to the airport and, after a long day of travel, we finally arrived in Managua at 10:00pm. WeвЂ™re friends from last yearвЂ™s trip and he came to the SCAA conference in Seattle last April. When we arrive, we greet RobertoвЂ™s son, Rodrigo. Roberto is very easy to like: heвЂ™s tall, gracious, and doesnвЂ™t show his 60-plus years. Bang, bang, bang on the door: вЂњGet up, youвЂ™re late! Malacara B is here to pick you up.вЂќ ItвЂ™s 7:20am and weвЂ™re supposed to be ready to go in ten minutes! Roberto Dumont picks us up and we head for Beneficio Bourbollon. Bed came very late! Feb 14, 2015: Dia de los Enamorados. Dismas was holding court for sure but I managed a few lies too. ItвЂ™s 6:30pm when we get back to the house for an awesome night with plenty of grilled meats, ron (rum), Cervezas, and-most importantly-lots of coffee stories. ItвЂ™s rewarding and humbling to be this close to the coffee and involved in this amazing process. Next, we tour the Beneficio and walk Finca El Manzano. ItвЂ™s an amazing view and if you look at any Caffe Ladro store menu youвЂ™ll see it in the background. We enjoy a nice lunch next to the drying patios. That remarkable increase is allowing them to put more money back into the farms. By selling specialty coffee, they will earn between $2.70 and $4.00/lb.

This year, they would have received approximately $1.25/lb. They used to sell coffee cherry to mills that put all the coffee together and paid a price based on the C market. The Ortiz family is doing an impressive job! We were their first specialty buyers and now they have many direct trade customers. The micro lots are cupping 86.5 and our blender is a solid 85.

#CAFFE LADRO FULL#

The table is very strong, with coffee scoring a full point higher than last year. WeвЂ™re looking for a blender coffee for our Queen Anne and Espresso blends and we hope to find some micro lots for our Daring single origin line. WeвЂ™re cupping the Ortiz coffees so we have ten to consider. Not only does he run a very busy mill, but he has Finca El Manzano and is on the executive council of Roasters Guild. HeвЂ™s also under a tremendous work load during this time. During the harvest, she works 16 hours a day, 7 days a week, for 3 1/2 months! We arrive about 10:30am and Emilio Lopez Diaz, the owner of the mill, greets us. Dana Foster, an old friend, is now the head of quality control and does all the cupping and scoring of coffees. Our next destination is CuatroM, the best mill in El Salvador, where the Ortiz family has its coffee prepared. We pack up and wave goodbye to Talnamica. We raised almost $2,000 dollars this year! Nena promises to give them the check and to get pictures of the soccer field they built with last yearвЂ™s donation. I brought another nice check to present to the remote village Canton Ojo de Agua above Natamaya. We talk of getting to Natamaya, but it isnвЂ™t likely weвЂ™ll have time. We wake up and have a typical breakfast of huevos, beans, and tortillas.

After dinner, we sit on the porch and drink some Flor de Cana rum, discussing the incredible day. We gently and happily give her a little hug and share some photos. ItвЂ™s getting late so we decide to visit Tita.

It is a wonderful time and kids are playing and eating ice cream. We see the harvest in full swing, with the patio full of people delivering cherry, sorting, and weighing their dayвЂ™s pick. His attention to detail is completely amazing and has become the standard for all the Ortiz family farms. Miguel Angel is the manager of the farm and is essentially the Michelangelo of Talnamica. She is simply the sweetest! So, without Tita, we have lunch and head out to the farm. Nena informs us Tita was incredibly upset she couldnвЂ™t be there for us and apologized. Sadly, our usual caretaker, Tita, is home recovering from surgery. After catching up, we go inside for lunch. Nena and Hermann, husband and wife who represent the family in all decisions, greet us with big hugs! We have been working with them for over 4 years and have become very close. About 10:45am, we arrive at Finca Talnamica, where the Ortiz family home is located.

Caffe ladro