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Santa Clara

Santa Clara

country Guatemala
region Antigua
farm Finca Santa Clara
producer Ricardo Zelaya
altitude 1550-2050 masl
varietal Bourbon, Bourboncito, Caturra, Villa Sarchi, Venezia, Pacas
process washed
notes green apple, cocao, toffee
profile sweet, balanced, medium body
importer Common Goal

style

roast level

The Zelaya family boasts a century-long legacy of cultivating coffee in the esteemed region of Antigua, Guatemala. Proud stewards of multiple farms in the area, they have dedicated themselves to meticulously preserving, refining, and enhancing Antigua's reputation as one of Guatemala's most cherished and renowned coffee regions.

Nestled on the fertile southern slopes of the Volcán de Agua in the Antigua Valley, Finca Santa Clara spans ninety hectares. Since 1988, it has been under the ownership and management of Ricardo Zelaya, representing the fourth generation of the Zelaya family devoted to coffee production at Santa Clara.

Ricardo, a forward-thinking farmer, directs his efforts towards achieving the pinnacle of coffee excellence. Overseeing three coffee farms in Antigua—Santa Clara, Hacienda Carmona, and Puerta Verde—and Carrizalito farm in the Nuevo Oriente coffee region of Guatemala. Ricardo's commitment is evident in the management of every aspect. From the precise selection of planted varieties to meticulous attention to plant nutrition, pruning, and the hands-on supervision of the wet and dry mills situated on the estate, Ricardo maintains complete quality control from harvesting to export.

Beyond his dedication to coffee quality, Ricardo is an advocate for sustainability. A quarter of the estate, totaling 25 hectares, is designated as a natural reserve, showcasing his commitment to environmental preservation. In a diversification effort, avocados thrive on approximately 4.5 hectares of the land. Emphasizing eco-conscious practices, all coffee across Ricardo's farms is shade-grown, safeguarding plants from direct sunlight, promoting soil health, and fostering vital habitats for birds and insects.

The family's mills boast eco-friendly features, including sedimentation tanks preventing water system pollution. Notably, composting all mill pulp contributes to organic fertilization, while parchment from the dry mill serves as fuel, reducing reliance on resources. Ricardo Zelaya's holistic approach to coffee cultivation underscores a legacy steeped in tradition and sustainability.

Clean Coffee


Ricardo Zelaya at Finca Santa Clara

We believe coffee should be both delicious and responsibly sourced. That’s why we only work with specialty-grade coffees that are carefully harvested, dried, and stored. The result is clean, safe coffee that reflects the care of everyone involved.

We’ve had a few questions lately about mold and mycotoxins in coffee. These concerns are understandable, especially with the rise of health-focused media highlighting potential contaminants in commodity-grade coffees. But it's important to contextualize this issue within the specialty coffee supply chain.

Mycotoxins, such as ochratoxin A (OTA) and aflatoxins, can develop when green coffee is improperly processed, dried too slowly, or stored in environments with high humidity and poor ventilation. These conditions are more common in lower-grade, bulk commodity coffees that are harvested and handled with minimal oversight.

The coffees we buy, on the other hand, are traceable, meticulously processed, and stored under controlled conditions. We work exclusively with specialty importers who conduct rigorous quality control at origin and upon arrival, including moisture content analysis, water activity measurements, and sensory evaluation. Coffees showing any signs of mold contamination would be eliminated long before they reach us. Moldy lots not only pose a safety risk, they simply don’t taste good and would fail basic cupping protocols.

While mold and mycotoxin testing isn’t typically a requirement in the specialty sector, it’s also not absent. In some producing countries, OTA testing is mandatory for export. And in others, lots above a certain size are routinely spot-checked by local quality control authorities. More importantly, the stringent handling and drying practices required to meet specialty standards make the presence of harmful mycotoxins highly unlikely.

We’re also attentive to how we store our green coffee, in sealed GrainPro bags, in a stable, low-humidity environment, and roasted in small batches to maintain quality and freshness.

If you'd like to dive deeper into specific protocols, we're happy to talk more. In short, we only work with importers we trust, who work with producers they trust, and quality control is built into every step. The coffees we choose to roast are clean, carefully handled, and selected with intention.

Schedule

Our weekly ordering cutoff is Tuesday at 9am. All orders placed before this time will be roasted, packaged and shipped by Wednesday. All orders received after this time are subject to shipping the following week depending on overflow.

 

Shipping Rates

Our current shipping rates are as follows:

Local Delivery Rates within 2km
$5.00 for orders between $0-$20
$2.50 for orders between $20-$40
FREE for orders over $40

Canadian Shipping (with tracking)
Standard rates for orders between $0-$36
$10 for orders between $36-$75
FREE for orders over $75

US Shipping (with tracking)
Standard rates for orders between $0-$100
FREE for orders over $100

Packaging

100% Recyclable

Our coffee bags are made of 100% recyclable plastic and widely accepted at recycling depots across Canada, making it easy for you to responsibly dispose. Its recyclable materials ensure that it can be repurposed efficiently, contributing to environmental sustainability efforts and promoting a circular economy model.

Volume Discounts

We're dropping the bomb on exclusive volume discounts on our entire coffee collection. Mix and match any single origin and/or blends and get the following discounts automatically applied at checkout.

15 - 44 bags 10% off
45 - 89 bags 15% off
90 - 179 bags 20% off
180+ bags 25% off

Regular price £13.00 GBP
Regular price Sale price £13.00 GBP
Sale Sold out

15 bags, mix & match = 10% off
Discounts automatically applied at checkout.

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