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Sustainability
Cafeology
It is worth mentioning that the information farm) and he has the most
Prologue
presented within this article (and future articles) experience but his family are
was gathered during his trip to Roberto’s farm also fully involved and thus not
where he only observed his farming practices. to be overlooked. Many of his
family work on the farm as well
Therefore, the information that he presents to
the reader may not be true for all coffee farmers as own shares in the
nor all Costa Rican coffee farmers for that company/land where the coffee
matter. On the contrary, Roberto’s farm is very is grown. Therefore, when Liam
unique in many ways. There will be many writes “Roberto’s farm”, it is
similarities that you may come across but coffee important to remember that the
is a diverse industry and farming practices can reality goes a lot deeper than
vary dramatically across farmers and countries just one man (even though he is
of origin. an incredible man but that is
beside the point).
He has already referred to the farm as Roberto
Mata’s and, for the most part, it is his farm. The week Liam spent on the
However, strictly speaking, the company is called farm was extraordinary and, if he
Mata & Montero Pura Vida (Mata from Roberto’s manages to capture the slightest
family name and Montero from his wife Doris’ piece of that within the writing,
family name, while Pura Vida translates into then he is delighted. This article
“pure life”, which is more than just a phrase but is made to be shared, so Liam
a way of life, appearing casually in nearly all implores you to share with
Costa Rican conversation). Roberto is very much anyone who will benefit from
the face of the company (and by extension the this knowledge.
Overview of El Llano farm, featuring workers turning coffee that is sun drying on tarps JANUARY/FEBRUARY. 2024 | ISSUE 34
www.beveragestandardsassociation.co.uk
