San Rafael

Lote Colectivo lots are among my favorite lots for a couple of reasons. Sure, micro-lots are fun, wild, and super cool to display the possibilities of what coffee can taste like, but when it comes to our sourcing passions, Lote Colectivos are where our heart lies.

This lot comes from 7 families in the Hoja Blanca region alongside some of Don Gerson’s coffees. What I enjoy most about Lote Colectivo lots is that they’re inclusive lots, enabling surrounding communities to benefit, and they grow a coffee that fits the classic Guatemalan profile we all love!

In our minds, it’s a beautiful balance where both community impact and quality coffee meet together. We love getting to work with farms in a way that’s investing in them individually and in their relationships with the surrounding community. Don Gerson stated, “It’s an honor to be able to process their coffees and extend out to them a better market outlet as a result of our relationship with COI.”

Lots of political and C-market changes have been happening in Guatemala as of late. Now that Brazil has recovered from its frost, supply levels are up, which means C-market pricing has begun to tank. Without better market outlets, C-market pricing is often the only option most producers are given. With high fertilizer costs and labor shortages, this places producers in Hoja Blanca in a scary position. Additionally, one of Guatemala’s largest exporters just fell apart, which places the local wet mill in Hoja Blanca in an even more difficult spot.

This Lote Colectivo might therefore be a safe haven and provide producers in Hoja Blanca a way out of being locked into C-market pricing for genuinely higher quality coffees! We love that we get to play a small role in providing more and better opportunities for local smallholder producers. We look forward to revisiting Hoja Blanca later this year to continue learning where we can come up underneath to support them, while continuing to build mutually beneficial relationships with producers and roasters in mind.

Our Approach to Transparency

At Euphoria, transparency begins with relationships. We believe that great coffee is rooted in mutual trust, respect, and shared commitment, long before it ever reaches your cup.

Instead of focusing solely on numbers or certifications, we prioritize long-standing partnerships with the farmers who grow our coffee. Some of these relationships have been years in the making, built through consistent communication, shared goals, and genuine care for one another’s success.

We believe the length of these relationships is one of the most meaningful indicators of transparency. A farmer would not choose to work with us year after year if we were cutting corners, negotiating unfairly, or treating their work as anything less than the craft it is. When both sides continue to return, it’s because the partnership is healthy, respectful, and mutually beneficial.

For some of our newer relationships, the foundation is the same: direct access and open communication are non-negotiable. We do not pursue sourcing situations where we can’t talk directly with the people producing the coffee, nor do we enter relationships that don’t have the potential to grow into something long-term. Our goal is always consistency, trust, and shared success, not one-time transactions.

Whenever possible, we visit our producing partners face to face. Sitting down together, walking their farms, and experiencing their work firsthand is invaluable. These moments deepen our connection and help ensure that our sourcing practices reflect our values in real, tangible ways.

When you enjoy our coffee, you’re supporting real people, real families, and real histories, thoughtfully connected across the world. That’s the heart of what we do, and that’s the kind of transparency we’re proud to stand behind.

Length of Relationship with Don Gerson: 3 years

How many different coffee lots we have purchased from the Don Gerson: 3

Have we met Don Gerson face to face? Not yet! We were unable to meet with Don Gerson when we visited Guatemala in 2022.

Thank you! – Nick Yost / Owner of Euphoria Coffee Roasting