Elvis Tineo Rafael, El Diamante, Peru | Natural MMY-0208

Elvis Reynerio Tineo Rafael farms La Naranja, a one-hectare, family-owned plot tucked into the highlands of Jaén. Coffee is a family tradition for Elvis—skills and know-how passed down from his grandparents to his parents and now to him. Established in 2016 after his father gifted him one hectare from the family’s three, La Naranja is named for the orange trees interplanted on the land. At 1,650 metres above sea level, the farm grows Caturra, Catimor and Catuai. Harvest runs from May to August, with an annual yield of around 40 quintales. Processing is washed in sealed bags, reflecting the region’s growing focus on quality and experimentation. The nearby forest and frequent rainfall create a cool, humid microclimate; soils are clay-loam with a suitable pH for coffee. Elvis manages the farm with a small team of four, using a mix of organic matter and mineral fertilisers, and reusing coffee by-products to build soil health. Agriculture here is rain-fed, and like many producers in Cajamarca, he faces climate-related drought and the persistent challenge of coffee leaf rust. Despite this, he’s proud to continue his family’s legacy and to produce coffees enjoyed far beyond Peru. His hope is for roasters to recognise quality with better, differentiated prices, helping him realise his goal of building a truly sustainable farming enterprise.