Cafeólogo
Cafeólogo is a project founded by Jesús Salazar, focussing mainly on indigenous coffee growers in the area around San Cristobal de las Casas in central Chiapas, the southernmost region of Mexico. San Cristobal is located rather close to the border with Guatemala, and is in fact only around 200 km or about a 5 hour drive from San Marcos Huista in Huehuetenango, where we continually work with our Guatemalan partners from Primavera.
In 2010, Jesús began working with 4 small producers, but soon many others in the area were curious about the project, and the prices they could be paid for their coffee through their access to the speciality market. To be able to accept so many more farmers into the project, Jesús realised that quality control would be very difficult if each producer was to grow and process their own coffee. So he made it his mission to add value to each group of producer’s work through careful processing, undertaking a Q-processing course and building community wet mills to process coffee from surrounding farmers.
Víctor López
This lot was grown by Víctor López near the town of Aldama, north of San Cristobal in the Chiapas highlands. Aldama is where the first Mexican coffee we ever released was grown by Pedro Vasquez back in 2020. Aldama is also the first town that Caféologo began working in, and Don Víctor is in fact the first producer they ever worked with. Jesús describes Víctor as a mentor; one of the greatest influences on the project that Caféologo has become. Victór’s influence goes beyond agronomy; he inspired Jesús’ strong focus on social issues and the preservation of coffee growing communities in Chiapas.
Caféologo as a project aims to create economic opportunities, using coffee as a medium through which to move forward and overcome after years of hardship in the region. The feelings behind Zapatista movement are still felt in Aldama, standing strongly for the rights of Mexican campesinos, those who rely on the land for their welfare and income. This close relationship to nature, and to the individuals and communities who rely on it, is what Jesús found in Víctor in the early days of Caféologo, and what continues to shape the project to this day.
Victór has been working with Caféologo for nearly 15 years, and this lot is a testament to this long relationship. This blend of Typica, Bourbon and Caturra showcases the complex character of each varietal, with bright perfumed aromas followed by a delicate and balanced cup, reminiscent of sweetened white tea.
