La Pacaya and La Cumbre de Amalem are two of the many small parcels of Sac Ixim group. They are own by Emilio Ical Lem and Ricardo Jom Lem. They both decided to register a combined coffee lot to the Cup of Excellence competition an Internet Auction.

The group has been growing coffee since 2001 and parcels are inherited from generation to generation. We grow coffee because it is a great economical tool to increase our standards of living and generates employ to many people in our community. This is the third year in a row, since 2006, that we receive the Cup of Excellence award. This award has been our door to better markets. Sales have been reinvested in the plantations and wet mill and we have paid our credits.

Winning awards is very special for our group. We used to sell to middlemen and it was very disappointed to our members and families when they did not pay prices already agreed or when the crisis affected our income. We want to continue investing and improving our mill, coffee plantations and provide our families with education and health. We want to be competitive growers with high quality that can satisfy better markets.

It is not an easy task. Specially selling directly and maintaining quality. But we also know that the altitude and the varieties are a perfect start. We grow Typica, Bourbon, Catuai, caturra and Pache. Selecting our coffee lot, without you knowing it, was recognizing the ability of small coffee growers to produce high quality coffee. That was really the greatest recognition! We celebrated with all members of our group and we are very thankful to God and the organizers.

We would like to meet our buyers and invite them to our community. Cup of Excellence has given us the opportunity to access markets where our quality is appreciated. Let us now show you a world where thankfulness, kindness and heart simplicity award those that give us an opportunity.

View on Cup of Excellence® website