1 - Finca El Izote - Mexico 2026 (Dry)

My name is Katia de Jesús Loeza Merino, and at 22 years old, I am proud to lead the transition of our family estate, Finca El Izote, into the pinnacle of specialty coffee. Located in San Pablo Coapan, Veracruz, our land takes its name from the native izote plants that once covered it—a symbol of our deep-rooted history. In 2022, I encouraged my father, Carlos Hugo Loeza Sánchez, to test our potential in the Cup of Excellence. Driven by the dedication of our family, crew, and our close friend Alexis, we secured a monumental 2nd place. This defining moment didn’t just strengthen our family bond; it ignited a fierce passion within me to challenge traditional, commercial farming and firmly establish a youth- and women-led legacy of micro-lot excellence in a historically male-dominated industry.

For us, the harvest is an intimate family ritual where agricultural heritage meets rigorous modern standards. Under my father's guidance, our entire family and dedicated team harvest with absolute precision, conducting a multi-pass, strict manual selection of optimally ripe cherries. This specific 1st Place lot—a magnificent Geisha processed with an exacting Honey protocol—represents years of collective learning and micromanagement. After a meticulous 24-hour cherry rest and depulping, the coffee undergoes a controlled 24-hour anaerobic fermentation with its mucilage completely intact, before being slowly dried on raised beds (camas africanas) to guarantee extraordinary flavor stability and longevity.

In the cup, this Geisha Honey is an elite, multi-layered sensory experience designed for the world’s most discerning palates. It expresses a remarkably elegant profile, boasting intense jasmine florals, crisp bergamot, and succulent peach notes, balanced by a brilliant, vibrant acidity and a prolonged, honeyed sweetness. Winning the Cup of Excellence is far more than a prestigious title for Finca El Izote; it is the ultimate validation that international, world-class quality can be achieved through family collaboration.