Finca Santa Clara | Antigua, Guatemala

A Family Rooted in Antigua

For more than a century, the Zelaya family has been growing coffee in the volcanic soils of Antigua, Guatemala. Over four generations, they have helped shape the region's reputation for producing some of the country's most celebrated coffees, always believing that exceptional quality begins with caring for both the land and the people who depend on it.

Today, Ricardo Zelaya carries that legacy forward.

As the fourth generation of his family to steward Finca Santa Clara, Ricardo combines decades of family knowledge with a progressive approach to farming. While honouring the traditions that came before him, he is continually looking for ways to improve quality, strengthen sustainability, and ensure the farm remains productive for generations to come.

A Commitment to Quality

Located on the fertile southern slopes of Volcán de Agua, Finca Santa Clara spans ninety hectares in the heart of the Antigua Valley. Alongside Santa Clara, Ricardo oversees Hacienda Carmona, Puerta Verde, and Carrizalito in Guatemala's Nuevo Oriente region.

From selecting coffee varieties to managing plant nutrition, pruning, harvesting, and milling, Ricardo believes that every stage of production matters. By maintaining close involvement throughout the entire process—from the first blossoms on the trees to the final export preparations—he is able to produce coffees that consistently reflect the character and quality Antigua is known for.

This attention to detail isn't driven by perfection alone. It's rooted in respect for the work that every harvest represents and a desire to continually improve each season.

Caring for the Land

Ricardo understands that producing exceptional coffee begins with healthy ecosystems.

Nearly one quarter of Finca Santa Clara has been preserved as a natural reserve, protecting native vegetation and creating habitat for birds, insects, and wildlife that contribute to a balanced environment. Throughout the farm, coffee is grown beneath a canopy of shade trees that help regulate temperature, protect the soil, and promote long-term tree health.

Sustainability also extends into the mills. Water used during processing is carefully managed through sedimentation systems before returning to the environment, while coffee pulp is composted and returned to the fields as organic fertilizer. Even the parchment removed during milling is repurposed as fuel, reducing waste and making thoughtful use of available resources.

For Ricardo, sustainability isn't a separate project—it is simply part of farming responsibly.

Investing Beyond the Farm

One of the reasons we value our partnership with Ricardo is his commitment to the wider coffee community.

Through the Santa Clara Scholarship Program, started in 2011, students from local coffee-growing families have been given the opportunity to continue their education. What began by supporting just eight students has grown to benefit dozens of young people, creating opportunities that extend well beyond coffee.

Ricardo also supports the Antigua Coffee School, an initiative that introduces young people to every stage of coffee production—from planting and harvesting to processing, roasting, and cupping—helping prepare the next generation to build meaningful careers within Guatemala's coffee industry.

These initiatives reflect a simple belief: investing in people creates stronger communities, and stronger communities create a more sustainable future for coffee.

Why We Partner with Ricardo Zelaya

At Common Goal Coffee, we believe the best partnerships are built on shared values.

Ricardo's commitment to quality, environmental stewardship, and investing in the people around him reflects everything we look for in a producing partner. His willingness to think beyond the current harvest—to care for the land, support education, and strengthen his community—is what makes his coffees so meaningful to us.

Every bag of coffee from the Zelaya family represents more than a remarkable origin. It reflects generations of experience, thoughtful stewardship, and a belief that the future of specialty coffee is built through long-term relationships, shared responsibility, and communities that continue to thrive.