Mexico - Rony Ordonez

Rony Ordonez îs a farmer from Ametenango de la Frontera, Chipas, a stones throw away from Huehuetenango, Guatemala. He is a son of Luis, and their 26 hectare farm is quite large by Mexican standards and he has been working the land for over 25 years.

The family cultivates more than a dozen different varieties and is highly focused on quality. His brothers, Edilzar and Minor, help him in all aspects of farm management. The families goal in owning a farm was to simply own 40 hectares of coffee producing land. However, at present they only have half the labour they need to manage his current acreage. In recent years they have invested heavily in making the farm more attractive to potential pickers; in offering better wages, free weekly food allowances and improved mechanisation on the farm to make the work easier.

Sadly, in recent years and even months, the gang situation in this area has got worse and worse. Two rival gangs are fighting for control of the border with Guatemala and in some areas they are blockading roads as a sort of ‘siege’ to try to force rival gangs out of certain towns and villages. This violence has not yet affected the Ordonez family, but they are open about their worries and they are currently not accepting any visitors.

We have opted for a medium roast for espresso which brings out a rich chocolate, caramel and red berry tasting shot. Beautiful with milk or on its own.