The Castillo family has been producing coffee in Huehuetenango, Guatemala for over 100 years. In the last several years, Augusto and his father have taken over the stewardship of that century-long legacy. Their farms, Colomba and Miracerros, are located on steep hillsides at over 5,000 feet of elevation. This altitude, along with Augusto’s skill and care in growing and processing, are creating some of the finest Guatemalan coffees Sweet Bloom has ever been privileged to share.

Augusto clearly loves what he does, but he also acknowledges the challenges of producing great coffee. The volatility of the commodity market makes it difficult for farmers. That along with tariffs, and challenges finding people willing to do the hard work of helping grow and pick coffee, pushes many producers to leave coffee farming. Augusto, has instead worked to improve the quality of his coffee. This is no easy task. Growing specialty quality coffee requires focused attention on every detail of the coffee production process. Right now, about 30% of Augusto’s crop reaches that level of quality – and we applaud him for that success as he continually strives for more.

Sweet Bloom enthusiastically partners with producers like Augusto because he grows such beautiful coffee. What we know is that Augusto’s success is also our success. We also know that our success depends on careful and thoughtful producers like Augusto!

We recently asked the Castillos how we could be a better partner in our coffee relationship. Augusto’s answer comes quickly. “One of the biggest challenges for us is cash flow. I have to pay the people who pick our coffee every week during the harvest season. But we do not get paid for that coffee until months after the harvest is over. Do you think you’d be able to pay
some of the price up front, during the harvest?” The answer to that is an easy yes for Sweet Bloom.

Welcome to your beautiful cup of coffee.