As the new harvest of Costa Rican coffees begins to arrive, we’re proud to announce the second year of Echoes of Coffee, our ongoing documentary series that highlights the voices, lives, and legacies of long-standing coffee producer partners.
This year, we bring you four new episodes, each a window into the lives of the producers, told in their own words. These stories are released in tandem with the coffees they harvest season after season.
Each episode offers an intimate glimpse into the realities and relationships behind the coffees we cherish, from generational wisdom and innovative processing to resilience in the face of change. We thank them and are honored to share their stories.
Las Lajas Micromill
June 4, 2025
Jhonnathan Camacho
June 18, 2025
Don Sabino Micromill
July 2, 2025
Aguilera Brothers
July 16, 2025
In this episode of Echoes of Coffee: Narratives from Costa Rican Producers, we meet Jhonnathan Camacho, a third-generation coffee grower who splits his time between medicine and the farm. Rooted in the hills of San José de Naranjo, Jhonnathan shares how he’s carried forward his family’s legacy while navigating the ever-growing challenges of coffee production in Costa Rica.
With warmth and honesty, he reflects on the steep learning curve, the impact of climate change, and the passion that keeps him committed to the land.
This is a story about returning home, adapting with purpose, and planting for the future.
At the foothills of the Poás volcano, Francisca and Oscar Chacón carry forward a deep-rooted legacy at Las Lajas Micromill. As third-generation coffee producers, their family has cultivated coffee since the 1950s, but their inheritance wasn’t just land; it was a mission.
Oscar’s father instilled in them a guiding belief: coffee should be part of a living, breathing ecosystem. The land must be nourished from the soil up, with cover crops, biodiversity, and a holistic approach to farming. This philosophy continues to shape everything they do.
Las Lajas is also renowned far beyond Costa Rica for their role in transforming how coffee is processed. From pioneering honey processing techniques to mastering naturals, Francisca and Oscar have continually adapted and innovated in response to changing conditions, be it climate, market demand, or flavor potential. Their dedication to both tradition and evolution is evident in the coffees they produce.
Released with the first episode, this special video zooms out to tell a parallel story: one of connection, trust, and shared vision.
In Tales from the Source, Andrew Miller, founder of Cafe Imports, reflects on his first visit to Las Lajas in 2010 and his first meeting with Francisca and Oscar. At the time, the Chacóns were already breaking ground with new processing methods that would later influence an entire industry.
Their collaboration marked the beginning of a long-standing relationship built not just on coffee, but on aligned values around quality, sustainability, and innovation. This video is a look back at that first meeting and everything that has grown from it since then.
This new season of Echoes of Coffee continues our commitment to sharing the stories behind the coffees because these aren’t just producers. They’re people who’ve spent their lives growing coffee, innovating, experimenting, and carrying forward what came before them, while constantly looking ahead.
The Echoes of Coffee series began last year with two narratives, featuring Alexander and Magali Delgado of Cerro San Luis Micromill and Diego Abarca Quiros of Alto San Juan Micromill. Enjoy those episodes on YouTube now.
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