“Love at First Sight”: Emilio’s Coffee Story

Emilio Cuj describes coffee as “love at first sight.” When he steps onto his coffee plot in San Lucas Tolimán, he sees plants he cares deeply about and a tradition that connects him to generations before him.

“When I arrive at my plot, I feel like I’m with the love of my life,” Emilio says. “That is how I treat my plants, because to me, they aren’t just plants. They are something special. Coffee and the person who grows it become one.”

Coffee has a long history in the rural highlands surrounding Lake Atitlán. For Emilio, it’s a legacy he has inherited from his parents and grandparents.

“Coffee is part of our identity and the way we have grown up,” Emilio says. “If coffee production ever stopped, we would lose something very important. It would be as if a part of us had disappeared and we were no longer whole.”

While specialty coffee scoring often focuses on technical details, Emilio believes the secret ingredient in his coffee is much simpler: affection.

“What makes coffee from San Lucas Tolimán special is the care and affection we put into it from the moment it is planted and throughout its growth,” he says. “I enjoy every stage of the process. When you love the plant, you learn to appreciate every stage.”

For Emilio, the relationship between grower and plant is reciprocal. The coffee provides for him, and he dedicates his time and care to helping it thrive.

“Coffee has taught me that it is a very giving plant,” he says. “When you treat it with affection, in a way, it gives something back to you. We depend on each other.”

Through Café Juan Ana, Emilio and other small farmers in San Lucas can receive a just price for their coffee, helping support their families and communities. For Emilio, knowing that his coffee reaches people thousands of miles away is another source of pride.

“The fact that the coffee we produce reaches the United States is an achievement,” he says. “It motivates us to keep improving our quality so people recognize it as a specialty coffee from San Lucas Tolimán.”

Emilio hopes customers appreciate the care that goes into the coffee they enjoy.

“Perhaps many people don’t know everything that goes into a cup of coffee, from planting to harvesting. But here, we carry out every stage with care and passion,” Emilio says.

To those who choose Café Juan Ana, he offers his appreciation: “We are very grateful because, through your purchases, you are helping to support the development of our families. Thank you for drinking our coffee and supporting our work.”

To taste the difference, purchase your coffee today at juananacoffee.org.