Barefoot Coffee Roasters
Mexico Chiapas Ek Balam Espresso

Floral aromas lead to notes of black cherry and gobs of dark chocolate and salted caramel with a thick body and a lingering finish. FARM INFO Ek-Balam was formed in 2019 with 399 members. The vast majority of producers have indigenous roots and continue to speak a native language. Nearly one third of these growers are women who depend on income from coffee to support their families. They cultivate coffee on farms that average just a few acres in size, small enough for each producer to process their own coffee with their own micro-mill. Ek-Balam provides crucial support to small producers, including helping producers gain access to credit and certifications. Investments for basic infrastructure needs, like road improvements, establishing local warehouses, and operating a dry-mill facility are all coordinated through Ek-Balam, which ensures traceability and quality control throughout the post-harvest process. Their collective efforts have established higher prices and more producer income to support best agricultural practices and improve livelihoods.