MORE THAN AN ECONOMY
Nestled in the caldera of the Tecuamburro Volcano in Guatemala’s Fraijanes coffee country one can find Finca Linda Vista, where the Castillo family has been growing coffee with a deep commitment to tradition, skill, and care. Today, Francisco Castillo stands at the helm. His farm is the culmination of generations of hard-won wisdom and scientific knowledge—both key to producing premium beans in what has become a highly competitive Guatemalan coffee market.
WORTH IT’S OWN STAGE
Our relationship with Finca Linda Vista spans over three decades. It began with Francisco’s father, Mario, and continues with a collaboration rooted in trust and shared standards of excellence. Coffees we’ve sourced from this estate have long played an important role in many of our most beloved blends such as Major Dickason’s™, but this month we are compelled to let this coffee take the stage alone and shine with a brilliance that is all its own.
SURVIVING AND THRIVING
The story of Finca Linda Vista is also a story of resilience. In 2014, the farm was severely impacted by Roya, a coffee leaf “rust” disease that regularly devastates coffee producers throughout Central and South America. Not only did they survive the setback, but with his scientific background, Francisco was able to rise as an advocate and resource for other Guatemalan coffee farmers by publishing his research and making his learnings available to anyone for free.
BOOTS ON THE GROUND
Francisco Castillo is described as “intelligent, kind, and generous.” During our coffee team’s most recent visit to his farm, he told them: “The best fertilizer is the bottom of your shoes.” This means putting in real time in the field with your production and employing the senses—getting to know the plants, scrutinizing the leaves, the soil, the sunlight, and the fruit. For Francisco, this hands-on approach is vital to success.
SOWING THE SEEDS OF TOMORROW
In keeping with this estate’s spirit of innovation, Peet’s is also proud to join alongside World Coffee Research and Francisco Castillo himself in sponsoring land for seedlot development. This invloves carefully cultivating a special crop of coffee to develop a genetically consistent, resilient, and high-quality seed stock which can then be distributed to local farmers’ fields. This ensures a bean variety which will ultimately yield a premium and resilient crop for future producers.
A COZY CUP
When we drink a cup of Linda Vista, it is both comforting and complex. Rich notes of dark chocolate and caramel sweetness form the foundation, while warming layers of nutmeg, ginger, and cardamom add depth and spice. Notes reminiscent of fresh pastry and toasted pecan round out the experience, giving us a coffee that feels especially suited to sipping from your favorite mug on crisp autumn mornings.
CRAFT, PERSEVERANCE, AND VISION
Francisco also told us, “There are 100 lessons to learn in coffee, and you get just one a year.” For him, growing coffee is not something to be mastered but an art to be practiced and refined over lifetimes—a multigenerational dance which does not end when the last cherry of the season has been processed, exported, and sipped away. Finca Linda Vista reflects the craft, perseverance, and vision behind every harvest, offering a taste of a remarkable estate whose impact expands well beyond its borders.
FRESH FROM THE ROASTERY
Coffee reflects the farmer as much as the farm. The flavor of this volcano-grown single origin is so sublime—and so consistent—that we maintain a multiyear, fixed price contract that guarantees sound income for the Castillos and the cream of the new crop for us. While we feature this coffee as a staple component in many of our classic blends, it has been over a decade since we have showcased this coffee as a single origin offering. The beans we received were small and evenly graded, with a medium-light olive-green color. The roast itself was uncomplicated and gave off a warm aroma of baker’s chocolate. These beans get better every year, and so does our relationship with the Castillo family. This is a very special seasonal crop that doesn’t last long, as Francisco produces only a few lots, of exceptional quality. Here’s to a long friendship, una linda vista, and a beautiful cup of coffee.
- The Coffee Department
