Finca Dona Elsa ET47

For over 20 years, we have traveled around the world along the so-called “Coffee Belt” near the equator, always with the goal of finding the very best coffees. Personal contact with the farmers is important to us, and over the years we have been fortunate to learn about their different methods and approaches.

Time spent on the farms is invaluable to us. We know from firsthand experience that behind all the hard work, behind every harvest and every single bean, stands the unwavering desire to achieve the best possible result.

On our travels we learned a great deal, and within us—like a seed—a secret wish began to grow. Over time it developed into a small plant, delicate at first, but year after year this wish became stronger. In the end it was unmistakable: we dreamed of running our own farm where we could grow our own coffee, gain further experience, and experiment with everything ourselves on site.

In Costa Rica, one of our favorite places in the world, this dream was meant to come true. Costa Rica stands for high coffee quality, breathtaking nature, and for us especially for very warm-hearted people. In the highlands of Tarrazú, at around 1,950 meters above sea level, we found a steep, unused hillside—the perfect place for our farm.

But first, a lot of work awaited us. Together with friendly neighbors, we cleared a small path from the public road to our land. We love trees, so we left most of them standing, preserved a small forest area, and additionally planted several fruit trees. At the same time, we began searching for special Arabica varieties. In the end, four main varieties and a whole range of experimental cultivars for our varietal garden were selected.

In the south of the country, the carefully chosen coffee seeds were nurtured in a nursery until they grew into small plants. A few months later, we transplanted them—one by one, by hand—onto our farm. After planting, we needed a great deal of patience, because good things take time.

After three years of loving care for our coffee trees, the first dark-red coffee cherries ripened, giving us our very first mini-harvest. In total, our farm produced only 40 kg of roasted coffee—but we were absolutely thrilled and endlessly proud of every single gram. Every cup was pure joy.

We accomplished all of this together as a family. In memory of our beloved grandmother Elsa and our family bond, we named our farm “Finca Doña Elsa.”

This year, the harvest on our cherished plot in Costa Rica turned out a little larger. The coffee has now been harvested, shipped to Munich, and roasted in our roastery. We are proud of every single bean, because in this case we can guarantee that—from planting the seeds to harvesting and roasting—every step was carried out with care and dedication.

Today we are happy to share our “Doña Elsa” coffee with our family, friends, and customers, because enjoyment is even better when shared.