About Finca San Nicolas

From the bright red coloring of the coffee cherries to the green flowering when it has matured and the delicious scent of coffee that invokes images of cherished familial gatherings, Lilian Martinez has carried her love for coffee since she was just a child always surrounded by coffee farms. Her fond memories formed into a passion for the delicacy required to get the perfect bean. For the past 8 years, Lilian Martinez has served as an administrator of Finca San Nicolas located in San Juan Alotenango, Sacatepéquez, Guatemala. Located 1250 meters above sea level in the skirts of Volcano of fire, finca Nicolas is adorned with spectacular views of the Guatemalan countryside. The volcanic land creates a rich and diverse array of minerals which serve as nutrients to the coffee plants.

As is traditional in Antigua, Guatemala, the coffee is grown under shade. Finca San Nicolas uses 3 processes: Natural, fermented, and unfermented. By utilizing these different processes, unique flavors and tones are derived and are packaged separately or in a special blend.

One of the many things that makes San Nicolas special is their unwavering dedication to conserving the land and protecting the natural environment. Finca San Nicholas has dedicated itself to protecting the land through active efforts to produce high quality coffee while maintaining sustainable farming practices. Finca San Nicolas makes the conscious effort to never use pesticides on any of the plots. Instead, each and every crop is carefully observed and cared for with organic products that will not be harsh or damaging to the land. All coffee cherries are delicately harvested by hand and picked at peak ripeness leading to consistently high-quality coffee with nuanced flavors and brightness. This commitment to sustainability is not without its difficulties. Even when undergrowth eventually begins to form (threatening the health of the coffee plant), aggressive machinery, which while effective but damaging to the soil, is not used. Throughout Lilian’s time at the farm, sustainability efforts continue to be at the forefront of every decision made.

While working on the farm, Lilian also dedicates much of her time to supporting women in the coffee industry. Opportunities for women in coffee are still unfortunately difficult to come by, a major issue that continues to persist in these industries. Over the past six years, Lilian has consistently worked with at least 15-30 women every year who are eager to learn more about each aspect of coffee production, along with the opportunity to work on the farm and provide an income for their families. Lilian is passionate about the work she does and says she is grateful for the chance to empower talented women in the coffee world.

In the future, Lilian hopes to continue producing high-quality coffee with utmost regard for the preservation of the environment.