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San Sebastian Farm

The city of Antigua, which means ancient in Spanish, is a beautiful old Colonial town. Designated as a world heritage city by UNESCO in 1975. it is dotted with churches, historic buildings, and cobblestone streets, and surrounded by three volcanoes.

In 1890, Salvator Falla Santos, an immigrant from Spain, opened his coffee farm here-- now well known as a coffee region. Since then, the Falla Clan has kept the farm for generations—passing its wisdom, techniques and faith on to the next designated farmer selected by family members. The heir apparent, before the retirement of the predecessor, voluntarily spends ample time on the farm to learn from his predecessors and carry on their rich and noble tradition.

In 1989 , for the first time, Jose Kawashima introduced this coffee to Japan. Japanese coffee lovers embraced San Sebatian coffee for its high quality, and contributed to the circulation of the expression, specialty coffee, in Japan. 

Miracle at an Altitude of 2,000 Meters (6,561 Feet), and an Inherited Pride

After his experience at San Sebastian in 1989, Jose became more focused on coffee quality. He frequented the farm and loved to walk around it. One day Mario Falla, the fourth-generation farmer and Jose went to take a look at a field that had an altitude of 1,800 meters (5,940 feet). Located at the foot of Acatenango Volcano, the field also had a magnificent view of Agua Volcano and Bourbon trees growing. The high altitude meant tht the coffee was less fruity but more dense.

They walked up to 2,000 meters (6,561 feet) where there was a rich field full of peach trees. Jose suggested that Mario use this unusual spot to produce a superior coffee. Mario agreed, saying “although the peach crop may be reduced, we can count on having delicious coffee with high density.”

In 2001 they removed peach trees and began planting Bourbon trees.

Two years later, Mario passed away from a heart attack. The sad news, as it is, also made Jose feel uncertain about the future of this new effort. What Mario’s successor would say? The coffee market was down, and the industry was shifting to more efficient methods of coffee farming.

Fortunately, the 5th-generation farmer, Estuardo, decided to continue the effort and named the high-altitude field Durazno, which means peach in Spanish. Jose considered Concepcion Durazno as the first candidate for Gran Cru Cafe. If Jose had not met Mario and Estuardo, Jose’s idea might have not been realized. Finca San Sebastian, the producer of this fine coffee, produces 5,300 bags of green beans, about 35 metric tons (77,161 lbs.) annually, and the crop shipped was 1,100 kgs. (2,420 lbs.), 0.3% of the total crop in 2008.