Finca Santa Clara Pacamara, Guatemala | FILTER

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The Zelaya family has been cultivating coffee for over a century, spanning four generations. Their story began in 1908, when the great-grandfather of the current owner, Ricardo, envisioned a future in coffee and started acquiring land across Guatemala to establish coffee farms. Today, the Zelaya family grows coffee in multiple regions of Guatemala, and they are among the few authentic Antigua coffee growers. Nestled in the Antigua Valley, their farms are surrounded by the majestic Agua, Acatenango, and Fuego volcanoes.

Finca Santa Clara, situated on the fertile southern slopes of Volcán de Agua in the Antigua Valley at elevations of 1,600–1,830 meters, has been under Ricardo Zelaya's care since 1989. His grandfather bought the farm in 1974, and since Ricardo took over, he has expanded it from 17 to 110 hectares of coffee plantations. He has also introduced a wet mill, drying patios, and a greenhouse to enhance the coffee processing. With a background in agribusiness from Zamorano and the University of Florida, Ricardo was well-equipped to lead the family business, showing his commitment to exceptional quality.

The Zelaya family is devoted to both quality and sustainability. Their farms are meticulously managed, from the careful selection of coffee varietals to the precise oversight of the wet and dry mills. The coffee is shade-grown to protect plants from direct sunlight, promote soil health, and support habitats for birds and insects. The family’s eco-friendly mills are equipped with sedimentation tanks to prevent pollution in nearby rivers.

At Santa Clara, workers are regarded as part of the family. In 2010, Ricardo launched a scholarship program to support workers in educating their children. Funded by Ricardo and supported by international buyers since 2012, the program is now managed by his daughter, Bel, who has a degree in Special Education. The vision is to formalize the project as a non-profit and expand its reach to include not only the children of farm workers but also those from surrounding communities.