Translating to the “land between rivers”, the Aquiares Estate and Com- munity is nestled between the Aquiares and Turrialba rivers, high on the verdant slopes of the active Turrialba volcano. Innovation and creativity have been cornerstones of the estate since Alfonso Robelo took over in the late 80’s, when he set about introducing schemes to enable workers to own their own homes - typically they would have lived in homes owned by the farm, with little stability. Aquiares has since become a vibrant community, and the nearly 1800 people who live there today are offered jobs, land and education.
Alfonso’s son, Diego, is now in charge, and has inherited his father’s pioneering approach. Under his leadership, Aquiares manages every stage of its coffee. This starts from seedling production and continues through to cultivation, bean picking and milling. Diego has invested in achieving carbon neutrality, and preserved natural corridors and protected forest interlace the farm. As a result, the estate is often the focal point of studies on diverse wildlife and agroforestry.
Seasonal buying is about seeing coffee as a crop not a commodity, buying in harmony with the growing seasons to enjoy coffee at its best. This kind of buying has always been the backbone of our business and it’s something we’ve improved and refined every year.
