A few weeks ago I did a series on the coffee business in our area. The other day I was treated to an organic homegrown process with a message.

A lot of folks have coffee plants; even our gringo next door neighbors harvest coffee at rivers edge on their lot. Around here you will see coffee beans sunning themselves everywhere. A few folks pan roast their beans. But you seldom will find someone that grows the beans and processes them to the cup.

During a visit with 84 year old Dona Juana Camacho Calba I learned that she has been growing, harvesting, depulping, washing, drying, stripping off the husk to get to the bean; and then roasting her coffee for more than fifty years.

We Met Up with Coffee Beans Drying in the Front Yard (ENLARGE Here)

I spotted what looked to be an antique hand crank de-pulper in the backyard. It is an antique, but still very much in use. There were even signs of recent use – dried pulp at the base of the machine.

We talked in the main sala (living room) which doubles as a bedroom with two double beds occupying quite a bit of real estate. One corner was devoted to a religious shrine where I was told a candle burns 24/7.

A Candle Burns 24/7 (ENLARGE Here)

Vicente sat back against a 60 kilo bag of coffee beans. There was another beneath it and a partial one in another corner.

Dona Camacho is in the organic coffee business. Her family doesn’t want her to sell coffee – they want it all – “It is organic” her daughter, Vicente’s Aunt, lets it be known. Later we were told Dona Camacho only sells a few kilos a week – enough to buy food and no more.

She has everything she needs; is in want of nothing; her way of life is simple. She plans to keep it that way.

I asked how she roasts the coffee after the drying and husk removal. She explained she had a roaster, asking if I wanted to see it.

“I would like that very much, thank you,” said I in my best effort Spanish. I’m sure the eager nod was confirmation enough.

The daughter and Dona Camacho led me to a corner of the kitchen where they showed me her hand crank roasting bin.

I had seen these before – this one looked old and it appeared to be sturdier than the current versions.

After showing us the roaster Dona Camacho moved across the kitchen. The tiny woman bent over to pick up a cement block. I attempted to help but she would have none of it – she lifted the block and placed it in front of the raised metal burner that accommodates a small wood fire beneath.

The block had a slot cutout where the small roaster could slip in and the drum turned over the fire. She demonstrated by turning her hand about where the crank handle would be. She smiled with satisfaction knowing I now knew she made her coffee beans from beginning to end.

Dona Camacho Demonstrates (ENLARGE HERE)

I asked her if she drinks coffee – oh yes she replied.

Monday Anita and I scooted into Coatepec to have a few prints of photos I had taken on Sunday. Prints I thought Dona Camacho might enjoy. We will soon go back with pictures in hand. I plan on buying some of that very exclusive coffee. The story will add to the flavor.

A woman making coffee for more than 50 years certainly will yield a fine cup of Joe. I will let you know. Stay Tuned!