How a partnership built on trust, quality, and shared purpose goes beyond certification.
Nestled just outside of Antigua, Guatemala, sits the small mountain community of Santa María de Jesús, framed by the dramatic rise of Volcán de Agua. It’s here, in the heart of the region’s coffee belt, that our long-standing relationship with La Armonía Hermosa began, a partnership that has become one of the most meaningful parts of our work at Vienna Coffee Company.
Where it all began
We first connected with Julio Cuy and his family in 2006. At the time, farmers in Santa María de Jesús were struggling to earn a sustainable living, caught in a cycle where low prices kept them from ever getting ahead. Out of a series of conversations about the future and about how coffee could provide stability and opportunity, La Armonía Hermosa was born.
Together, we set out to create something different: not just a coffee brand, but a model of collaboration and empowerment. We worked alongside Julio and his neighbors to establish a community beneficio (processing mill), invest in new equipment, and conduct quality trainings on harvesting and processing. The goal was simple yet transformative, to improve the quality of the coffee and build a name for Santa María de Jesús that would earn the recognition and prices it deserved.
Beyond certification
While La Armonía Hermosa isn’t labeled Fair Trade Certified, the relationship far exceeds those standards. Through pre-harvest financing, Vienna provides critical funding before the season even begins, allowing farmers to focus on producing the best coffee possible without the burden of debt or uncertainty. This direct support ensures higher stability, fair compensation, and a continuous cycle of reinvestment back into the community.
Unlike transactional trade models, this relationship is rooted in long-term partnership and shared accountability. Every year, Julio, his son Melvin, and their neighbors bring coffee cherries from around the community to the mill. They process washed coffees and experiment with honey and natural methods, all while maintaining the level of care and precision that defines La Armonía Hermosa.
A new generation carries the torch
When we first met Melvin, he was seven years old, helping his father around the farm. Today, he’s stepping into a leadership role, guiding operations and continuing the work that began nearly twenty years ago. His involvement marks a turning point not only for the Cuy family, but for the future of coffee in Santa María de Jesús, a new generation of farmers embracing innovation while preserving their family’s legacy.
“We began the project with the hope that we could improve quality and gain a marketable name for coffee from Santa María de Jesús.” - Les Stoneham, CEO, Vienna
Harmony in every cup
“La Armonía Hermosa” translates to “Beautiful Harmony,” a name that captures the spirit of this partnership, farmers and roasters working together toward a shared vision of quality, sustainability, and community growth.
Every bag of this coffee represents more than a great cup. It’s the result of years of collaboration, learning, and mutual respect between people who believe that coffee can and should be a force for good.
AT VIENNA COFFEE COMPANY…
Our dedication to ensuring that we are a market leader in craft coffee throughout the southeast dictates that we apply the same critical scrutiny used for our complete coffee lineup to any product we offer.
This commitment demonstrates our continued pursuit to provide craft coffee that enriches the lives of customers and producers alike by providing an experience grounded in excellence and hospitality. We custom pick our green coffee beans from regions across The Coffee Belt and always seek responsible sourcing from seed to cup.
Our roasting team ensures each bean varietal is roasted according to its characteristics to enhance its peak flavors. Vienna Coffee Company goes further by evaluating each varietal harvest through coffee cuppings to evaluate and adjust its roasting profile.
Explore our complete line of coffees online or stop by the Coffee House and let our baristas do the brewing for you. We hope that exploring what we offer (whether its organic, single-origin, a VCC custom blend or your favorite flavored coffee) continues your journey in discovering that “Great Coffee is an Adventure”.