El Mirador

Elkin Guzman

Small-scale producer

Elkin Guzmán is known for his innovative post-harvest processing techniques at his family farm, Finca El Mirador in Palestina, Huila. With Elkin’s background in agronomy and his wife Diana’s experience as a professional barista, they have successfully integrated experimental methods, such as adding fruits during fermentation, to create unique flavor profiles for over 13 years. Their semi-shade cultivation system optimizes temperature and photosynthesis, contributing to high-quality harvests in two cycles: the Mitaca (May-July) and Main Harvest (Sept-Dec). While co-fermentation has sparked debate over its impact on perception of terroir, Elkin emphasizes market demand is the primary driver of these methods and transparency as key to building trust with buyers. By openly sharing their methods and results, Elkin and Diana invite trust and collaboration with buyers, allowing for more freedom to experiment and meet the growing demand for innovative, high-quality specialty coffee.