In the specialty coffee world, we often talk about origins, terroir, processing methods and roast profiles. But rarely do we pause to spotlight the people behind those beans, the farmers, millers and families whose dedication, innovation and hard work are foundational to what ends up in your cup. That’s why we’re especially proud to roast coffee from El Cipresal / Alto El Vapor and to celebrate Delfina Porras as she steps into the global spotlight at the World Barista Championship.

Why producers so often go unseen

From the retailer or café side, it’s tempting to talk about roast, brewing methods, latte art or flavour notes, all visible, tangible and presentable. But those stories often obscure the realities at origin, including climate pressures, generational transitions, lack of access to markets, limited technical infrastructure and the sheer physical labour of growing, processing and sorting coffee.

Too many links in the coffee world commoditise the bean without acknowledging the human effort behind it. This not only underestimates the value producers bring, but also disconnects consumers from the people whose livelihoods are tied to every harvest.

Delfina: bridging origin and consumer

Delfina Porras is not just an ambassador, she’s a living and breathing link in that chain. She works in the family micro-mill, Alto El Vapor, collaborating across farming, processing, quality control and export. Their farm uses an anaerobic natural process for their Catuaí variety, fermenting sealed for five days before transferring to drying beds for several weeks, with close attention to moisture, airflow and micro-climate variation. 

By representing Costa Rica at the World Barista Championship in Milan (October 17–21), Delfina brings visibility not just to her personal craft, but to the story behind every cup of El Cipresal we roast. It’s one thing to know a coffee’s farm, it’s another to see the face, hear the vision and feel the responsibility behind it.

Looking ahead: not just beans, but connections

So when you brew a bag of El Cipresal, you’re sipping more than flavour notes, you’re connected to Delfina’s ambition, her family’s stewardship of land and community and a model of turning production into recognition.

We’re incredibly proud to roast and share this coffee and we hope that by amplifying voices like Delfina’s, we move the industry a little closer to a more equitable, visible and human coffee chain.