High in the misty highlands of Ixhuacán de los Reyes, Veracruz, a piece of land waited quietly for its story to be told. It once belonged to Ernesto and Givette Pérez Orea’s grandfather, a place rich with family history but left untouched for decades. The soil slept under the shade of oak, pine, and fig trees, whispering stories of generations past and in 2021, the siblings returned, carrying a shared dream.
La Perla Farm sits at 4,921 feet, cradled by forests and softened by drifting fog. The cool, dry climate and untouched soil created a perfect foundation for coffee of extraordinary quality. Of the farm’s 86.5 acres, 25 flourish with coffee plants, while the remaining 61.5 are preserved as an ecological reserve, home to birds, insects, and the quiet hum of nature. The Bourbon coffee variety thrives here, but the siblings are not content to stop there. Experimental lots of Geisha, SL-28, and Pacamara grow alongside their signature crop, a laboratory of flavor exploration born from curiosity and respect for their land.
The Pérez Orea family’s vision extends beyond La Perla. They manage additional farms in the region and a small mill where they can process coffee with precision, ensuring quality at every stage from cherry to cup. By centralizing the processing, they are able to experiment with washed, honey, and natural methods, tailoring each lot to bring out the unique characteristics of the soil, altitude, and microclimate.
Every day is a lesson in patience and care. The siblings walk the rows of coffee plants, study the soil, and track the weather, listening to what the land asks of them. In 2023-2024, their dedication revealed its reward. The first harvest produced a washed Bourbon that scored 90.79 points. Every cup tells the story of place, alive with winey sweetness, caramel, hazelnut, rum, and bright citrus notes. A sparkling, sweet white wine structure carries Bourbon’s classic elegance, shaped by the ravine-bordered microclimate where warm and cool air currents meet. The washed process brings clarity, finesse, and an authentic representation of Veracruz highland coffee.
This Cup of Excellence winning Washed Bourbon is more than a coffee. It is a bridge between past and present, a celebration of family heritage renewed, and an incredible journey to define what Veracruz specialty coffee can be on the world stage. Every sip connects you to the Pérez Orea family, their grandfather’s vision, and the mountains that shaped the coffee. It is a testament to what happens when passion, curiosity, and respect for the land converge, turning untouched soil into something extraordinary.
