We were thrilled to begin our collaboration with Alma Coffee in May. Everything seemed to be in disarray and a lot was unpredictable, yet we realized that our customers from MistoBox would be delighted with Alma’s teas. After earning the title of Favorite New Roaster of 2020, it is clear that our subscribers recognize what we have seen. The word “Alma” in Spanish translates to “soul”, which appropriately reflects the energetic passion in every freshly roasted batch of coffee beans. We wanted to share more of the story their coffee tells. We took a moment to speak with Leticia Hutchins, who co-owns Alma’s with her partner Harry Hutchins and her father, Al Lopez, to find out more details about how this business got its start, its mission, and what plans they have for the future.
So your dad is from Honduras and you grew up in the States, but visited every year. What was that like as a kid?
[Leticia] Yes, my dad is from a small town called Corquin in Copan, Honduras. I grew up thinking every kid went to Honduras and spent the holidays in coffee farms. I loved it mainly because I am a huge animal lover and there were so many animals everywhere; cats, dogs, cows, chickens, etc… I didn’t fully understand the meaning of what we were doing at the coffee farms at the time, but I sure had fun munching on coffee cherries and playing between the trees.
So farming specialty coffee is in your blood. What made your family decide to start roasting?
[Leticia] Since our family has been growing coffee for multiple generations, we were blessed with amazing land with nutrient-rich soil. In 2008 my dad (Al Lopez) began building a state of the art model farm to ensure we were always producing delicious specialty coffee that would change the perception of Honduran coffee. Roasting in the USA was something that Harry (my husband) and I decided to do in 2018. Up until then, our family had never roasted our own coffee nor been able to serve it directly to customers. Harry and I were deep into our corporate accounting careers but felt a calling to make a difference in the world, even if it was in a small way. We started using all of our vacation days to visit our family farms in Honduras. We instantly fell in love with the positive change we could make through coffee and decided we wanted to take our family legacy one step further by roasting! We quite literally took a leap of faith, we quit our jobs, and the next day we were at the SCA Expo in Seattle. It is a rewarding feeling every single day when we can take the time to educate coffee lovers on all the steps that it takes to get that very coffee in their cup.
What has kept you motivated?
[Leticia] There are so many things that keep us motivated but if I had to narrow it down to three things it would be our mission statement;
improving lives,
sustainable practices, and
bringing people extraordinary coffee. Improving lives is something that we see on many levels, whether it is down at our farm with the over 250 pickers that we host during harvest season or at our roastery when we serve someone their morning cup of coffee. Being able to put a smile on someone’s face motivates us! As coffee farmers we believe it is our duty to live sustainably, we recycle as many coffee byproducts as possible, have a zero hunting/deforestation policy at our farms, and roast on a Loring smart roaster to reduce our carbon footprint. Last but not least, providing extraordinary coffee. So many hands have poured their heart and soul into the beans that make up a single cup of coffee, being able to pay homage to that keeps us going!
Tell us more about what’s going on in Copan, Honduras? It’s been a tough couple of years for the region with the falling price of coffee, encroachment for other land uses, and extreme weather events. How are people coping?
[Leticia] It has definitely been a couple of tough years in Honduras and at our farms. For coffee farmers in general, coffee prices are so low they are unlivable. My dad, Al recently did a TedX video on this where he talks about how green bean pricing has decreased. To put it into perspective, he moved to the USA in 1977 when green bean pricing was $2.32, now it is around $1.14…so crazy!! This is with labor pricing and gas prices going up! Coffee farmers literally can’t put shoes on their kids’ feet so they resort to burning their farms and raising cattle or turning to illegal activities out of necessity. We personally know farmers who have given up on the industry and if you look it up online you can find videos of farmers chopping down their beautiful farms because they are fed up with not even being able to break even on their crop.
I’m not going to spend time talking about the COVID pandemic since we all have experienced it, but making matters worse, Honduras was hit by two devastating hurricanes one right after the other in November. The process of bringing back what has been lost is only just commencing and will stretch out over a number of years. For further details, our recent blog post gives an in-depth look at the destruction caused by the hurricanes.
Who do you look up to in coffee?
[Leticia] We really look up Robbie Roberts and his team at Joe Van Gogh out of Hillsborough, North Carolina. When Harry and I quit our jobs, and 2 days later, landed at the SCA in 2018 bright-eyed and excited about getting into roasting, Robbie, the owner at Joe Van Gogh took us under his wing and helped us with absolutely every single question we had. He even had us shadow his team for a week to understand the ins and outs of a roastery. They run a tight ship and we emulate that same model because of the foundation they have provided us.Today, we have an amazing relationship. Their team has come to our family farms various times and we look forward to seeing how it continues to grow in the following years.
The Caffeine-Addict’s Guide to the Best Coffee in Medellin
Hija Mia Coffee Roasters
New Zealander Shaun Murdoch unveiled the sophisticated craft of coffee-roasting from his homeland when he set up his coffee business in Medellin in 2015, ahead of the area becoming fashionable.
New Zealand has a greater quantity of coffee roasters for each individual than any other nation, which makes it a great place to make a perfect cup of coffee. Shaun takes great satisfaction in obtaining the finest beans before they can be exported, to use in his acclaimed flat whites.
The Rebelde blend by Hija Mia is prepped and cooked where it is made, and contains beans from two highly desirable types – Caturra and Bourbon – from ranches located in the Huila subdivision of Santa Maria. Apart from providing Medellin’s finest flat white, Hija Mia also serves up avocado toasts with hummus made on the premises.
He also offers instruction to novice coffee makers who are looking to expand their abilities.
Arrive early, as there tends to be a large number of devoted supporters present most days. If the first location is occupied, an additional 40-seat area can be found downstairs at the Nomad Hostel.
Where to Find Them
For those in the weekday work crowd, Hija Mia is a great place to get coffee, though it should be noted that their hours are limited over the weekend. If you take your journey before 3:30pm, then you will have the opportunity to get one of the renowned flat whites.
Address: Calle 11A #43B-9, Barrio Manila, Medellin
IG @hijamiacoffee
Website: https://www.hijamiacoffee.com/
Pergamino Cafe
The Echavarria family set a higher standard for the other coffee shops in Medellin when they hit a perfect balance at Pergamino on Via Primavera. This place is a phenomenal coffee-lovers’ paradise in the fashionable Provenza area.
This establishment was established in 2013 with the goal of getting tourists and digital nomads to stay for the day. The café is extremely successful because of its speedy internet, high-quality branding, fashionable decor, and a beautiful outdoor area designed by Base Taller architects.
In addition, the cappuccinos and americanos at the café are superior. The terrace was an immediate hit, quickly becoming the favored destination for expats in the city wanting coffee and members of the startup community.
The high-quality combinations from Pergamino are obtained from the Santa Barbara Coffee Estate, a certified organic estate created by Don Pedro Echavarria in five farms that lie to the south of the city in 1980. It was Pedro Jr., his son, who thought of providing the finest beans from Antioquia to the baristas of Medellin who had the most skill.
The special blend has been enormously desired, with fresh concoctions appearing throughout town. Three more Pergamino’s opened in Poblado during the pandemic.
This refers to a two-story refuge designed especially for those people who work remotely while travelling (Digital Nomads) located on Calle 10b. The Oviedo Shopping Center has a large store, while a larger store can be found at a higher elevation in San Lucas.
There is a store in the Jose Maria Cordova airport that is helpful for picking up any last-minute gifts before departing.
Where to Find Pergamino
It can be difficult to determine which store to go to out of the many options in town. No matter which place you want to go, we have all the details.
Via Primavera Location: Cra 37 No.8a-37, El Poblado, Medellin
Calle 10b Location: Calle 10b, No.36.32, El Poblado, Medellin
This address is in El Poblado, Medellin: Calle 16a Sur, No.30-68.
IG: @pergaminocafe
Website: https://co.pergamino.co/
Rituales Cafe
Rituales Cafe provides what is likely the most delicious cup of coffee to be found in Medellin, and it is a source of stimulation and excitement. This enterprise is housed in a two-storey cafe located in Laureles.
Since 2017, Rituales has been preparing its award-winning Paraiso roast to aid 40 households living in La Sierra, a particularly distressed region near the city.
Recently, the roasting of their coffee drinks that support social causes was moved to a new location, La Fabrica. This place is located on the opposite side of the river in Perpetuo Socorro. Cristian Raigosa, the head barista at the establishment, provides tours for those eager to observe the complete process at close range.
It’s definitely a cause for celebration: coffee enthusiasts seeking to savor the experience of coffee from the farm to the mug will be delighted with this cafe.
A visit to Rituales is more than just getting your coffee; it’s an all-encompassing sensory experience. You’re only a short distance away from the well-known Factory Lofts Building in Laureles.
Where to Find Rituales
Rituales is available for business most days of the week until late at night. You won’t have to look far – they are all in one place, so it’s a breeze to locate them if you need an energy boost!
Address: Cq. 74A #39b-22, Barrio Laureles, Medellín
IG: @rituales.cafe
Website: https://ritualescafe.co/
Café Velvet Medellin
Chocoholics who need an extra jolt of caffeine will appreciate this Belgian treat. Ilse Geyskens, an enthusiastic caffeine devotee, set up Cafe Velvet on Via Primavera.
Cafe Velvet Medellin is located on the bottom level of Medellin’s opening venture into the world of shared work spaces.
That spot is often visited by many of the inventive people in the area.
This location is perfect for digital nomads and creative thinking, featuring an exquisite décor and permitting pets. Additionally, the establishment obtains its own coffee beans from the best farms of Nariño, Antioquia, and Huila.
In addition to its top-notch organic coffee, this store also offers other healthy sources of antioxidants, such as vegan granola.
Be sure not to overlook the bars of Belgian chocolate.
The end product of Colombian cacao combined with long-term experience transforming it into charming cubes of joy is this beverage. If the gooey chocolate cake and macchiato don’t get your mind turning, we don’t know what will.
Do you want to explore another popular coffee shop in the Poblado area? Don’t forget to check out the Marquee’s coffee tasting experience. It’s merely a brief stroll from Café Velvet and is certainly worth the time to check it out.
Where to Find Cafe Velvet
The café is available every seven days, however, the timing varies slightly from one day to another. Yet, you will have the possibility to secure yourself a chair and settle down to enjoy a wonderful cup of tea. It will stay accurate regardless of which day you come!
Address: Via Primavera. Cra 37, No. 8A 46, El Poblado, Medellin
IG: @cafevelvetcoffee
Website: https://www.cafevelvet.co/