Caring for their coffee plantations is a year-round rhythm. Farmers weed the inter-rows three to four times a year, clearing vegetation that competes for sunlight, water, and nutrients, while also keeping paths clear for harvest and maintenance. Before each fertilization, the base of the trees is cleaned to ensure nutrients reach the roots effectively.

After harvest, producers carry out “RE-RE,” collecting unripe, overripe, or dried cherries left on the trees or ground. This keeps fields clean and helps control Broca and other pests. Pruning removes old, diseased, and unproductive branches, while tree height is managed to improve airflow, sunlight distribution, and ease of picking.

Complementary crops such as plantains, corn, yucca, guama, beans, avocados, guavas, and citrus provide shade, enrich the soil, prevent erosion, and offer additional income and food for families. Fertilization occurs every four months with chemical blends suited to the trees’ age and stage, and organic fertilizer like compost or humus is applied at least once a year.

The main harvest runs from May to August, with a smaller mitaca or traviesa harvest in November and December. Only cherries with dark red or burgundy color are picked every three weeks. After harvesting, cherries go through balceo, a water-based separation that removes defective or unripe fruit.

Most labor comes from local families, strengthening the community and economy. During peak harvest, about four pickers per hectare are needed, with farms typically hiring 5–10 workers paid by weight or hour.

At the end of each day, cherries are weighed and pulped, then fermented for 12–24 hours in cement or plastic tanks. After fermentation, the beans are washed three times to remove mucilage. Drying takes 10–15 days on raised beds in greenhouses or patios, with beans raked 3–4 times daily to ensure even drying and prevent mold, reducing moisture from 60–70% to 9–10.5%.

Finally, dried coffee is packed in fique bags, placed on wooden pallets, and rested for 5–8 days to stabilize and protect the beans before storage or transport.