This lot comes from brothers Marcos and Hilario Pantoja, who have been growing coffee together for the past ten years on their family farm, Llano Grande in Sochiapam, Oaxaca. They cultivate Typica, Bourbon, and Gran Colombia varieties. Like the rest of their family, they speak both Spanish and Chinanteco. The Pantoja family is closely knit, working together during the harvest season without the need to hire outside labor. Unlike many producers in Sochiapam, the Pantoja family extends their involvement in coffee beyond the farm. They own both a mill and a coffee roastery, allowing them to carry their coffee further along its production journey.
At their home, they operate a washing station where they ferment their coffee in wooden tanks and plastic cylinders for 24 hours. After fermentation, they dry the coffee on patios for five to eight days, depending on the weather. Their farm layout includes rows spaced two meters apart and seedlings planted 1.5 meters apart. Between each row, they grow additional vegetation to keep the coffee trees well separated and supported. They shade their coffee trees with native species such as ice cream bean and avocado. These trees offer multiple benefits, providing not only shade but also food, ornamental value, medicine, construction materials, nitrogen fixing, and water retention. This creates a well-rounded and sustainable farming environment.
