San Lazaro Coffee is committed to our quadruple bottom line:
PEOPLE
PURPOSE
PLANET
PROFIT
Purpose
While we aim to grow world-class coffee, our greater purpose is to provide meaningful, transformational employment. We live out our Christian faith daily through our workplace culture—built on compassion, respect, and the belief that every life has eternal worth.
People
We believe people matter more than profit. Our mission begins with empowering women through dignified work. That’s why our female-led team earns wages nearly double the regional average, allowing them to dream bigger and live better. Their expertise and commitment are poured into every cup, producing coffee that doesn’t just taste good—it changes lives.
Planet
We take seriously our role as stewards of the earth. Our farm is home to the source of the Rio Coco Segovia, one of Central America’s most vital rivers. We cultivate our coffee without harmful chemicals, protect our employees from dangerous exposures, and care for the land using eco-friendly machinery, organic fertilizers, and wastewater treatment systems. Our shade-grown methods preserve the region’s flora and fauna, maintaining biodiversity in a delicate ecosystem.
Profit
We chose to forgo Fair Trade certification not because we lowered our standards, but because we surpassed them. Rather than pay for a label, we use those funds to invest directly in our workers and small-scale producers. By processing, exporting, and warehousing our own beans, we eliminate the middleman and ensure profits return to the people and communities where our coffee originates.
Our Beans
Two Varieties - Two Unique Processes
Caturra Variety
This Arabica variety offers smooth citrus accents and chocolate notes, refined through a classic fermented-washed process that emphasizes clarity and brightness.
Catimor Variety
Naturally dried with the fruit intact, our Catimor is bursting with deep cherry, chocolate, and subtle plum. A labor-intensive process reveals complex flavors rarely found in this regional staple.
Rooted in Dreams: A Young Woman’s Path to Change
Mayela, a 17-year-old from a small village surrounded by green mountains, lives with her grandfather. God has gifted her with a heart full of dreams and a deep passion for nature. Her educational journey began at Lazarus Academy, where she not only gained theoretical knowledge but also developed values that shaped her as a person. Upon graduating high school, Mayela knew her story was just beginning. She decided to enroll in a forestry program, determined to help preserve the environment of her beloved homeland.
Honoring Sister Karla
At 24 years old there were not many opportunities for Karla. She was newly married and had a young daughter. The rugged rural mountains where she had grown up and lived in her entire life hadn’t afforded much. In particular she didn’t have the opportunity to continue learning in high school. But what she did learn was how to work. Both Karla and her husband were committed to helping their young family get ahead. He farmed and she worked anywhere she could, often picking tomatoes or peppers for farmers in the region. The days were long, the pay was bad, and the treatment was worse.
