At Pneuma, we are constantly working to provide coffee ethically and sustainably by sourcing through direct relationships. For us, the importance of supporting producers and their communities is paramount, and a primary way that we breathe life into communities.
Guatemala Bella Vista
Hoja Blanca, Cuilco, Huehuetenango, Guatemala
Producer: Arcenio Castillo Villatoro
After a childhood spent on his father’s coffee farm in La Libertad, Huehuetenango, Arcenio Villatoro carried the dream of owning his own farm. In 2007, he purchased land in the town of Cuilco and began to produce his own coffee there with the help of his wife and three children. With many years of experience in coffee, the Villatoro family continues to refine their harvesting and processing methods. Multiple Villatoro lots, although from different farms, have won awards for Guatemala’s cup of excellence. We began our relationship with the Villatoro family in 2021 when we purchased the Punta del Cerro lot, produced by Arcenio’s nephew Jenner.
Chris Bean, Chris Human, Arcenio Villatoro (Producer), Rosa (Wife), Carmela (Mother)
Nicaragua La Concepcion
Volcán Casitas, Chinandega, Nicaragua
Producer: Ariel Teran
As fourth and fifth-generation coffee producers, Ariel Teran and his children do their work with passion and pride. For them, coffee production is both a way of life and a path to preserve the environment while giving back to their community. Their farm, known as La Concepcion, is perched on the slopes of the Casitas Volcano and combines family tradition with innovative practices. Over the years, the farm and surrounding community have experienced countless hardships, including the catastrophic Hurricane Mitch of 1998. The Teran family’s resilience and ability to adapt are undoubtedly a large part of their success.
Guatemala Co-Atitlan
Santiago Atitlan, Guatemala
Producer: Cooperative Co-Atitlan Members and Associates
Santiago Atitlan, home of the Mayan Tz’utujiles, is also home to the Cooperativa Atitlan, El Paraiso Tzutujil R.L.. Pneuma Coffee has been been sourcing from Co-Atitlan since 2017. Ever aware of their impact on their surrounding environment and community current president Herman and his crew at the co op work to teach their producer community methods of having a sustainable income even in off seasons such as planting parcels of companion plants along side coffee such as banana trees which provide shade for coffee plants and harvest in the off season for coffee. Herman and his crew are also running experimental earthworm compost sites for the biproducts from coffee processing to find quicker, more environmentally friendly means of composting that potentially provide a quicker end result. Co-Atitlan currently has 24 associates, 5 of which are female. In addition, nearly 900 producers associates contribute coffee to Co-Atitlan. Our importer Kapeh Utz was the first importer to work in a direct trade format with Co-Atitlan.
Here is a clip of Herman at Co-Atitlan talking to our founders about their process and the impact that our direct relationship with them has on their community.
Select “CC” to view subtitles in English.