Luz Estella Pérez is a third-generation coffee farmer who manages Finca Buenos Aires with her brother César and her son Danilo. We have been buying coffee from the family since 2021. Finca Buenos Aires is an established farm with trees over eight years old. The trees are kept compact and productive through zoca – an extreme but effective style of pruning which takes the tree down to its stump, from which new growth begins. Zoca is performed every four years on a rotational basis which keeps the farm in production year to year. Farmers will organise this by stumping by plot or by row, depending on their specific conditions on their farms and their micro-climate. Given the altitude at Buenos Aires (1750m), and the growing terrain, this style of pruning will also help defend the trees agains coffee leaf rust which thrives in the cooler, humid conditions in this area. By keeping good space in the plots, Luz lets in light and air around the trees.
Monmouth Coffee Company was founded in 1978 by Nick Saunders and Anita Le Roy on Monmouth Street in Covent Garden. It is widely regarded as a pioneer of third wave coffee in London. The roastery operates from five railway arches in Bermondsey, using energy efficient Loring roasters. Monmouth sources from single farms, estates, and cooperatives through long term contracts, with staff travelling regularly to origin. They have been buying directly in Huila, Colombia, since 2012. The company played a part in regenerating both Neal's Yard and Borough Market, and many of London's independent roasters trace their roots back to Monmouth's training. There are no paper cups: ceramic for staying in, reusable for taking away.
