Juan Diego de la Cerda & Finca El Socorro: A Relationship Built on Trust, Craft, and Exceptional Guatemalan Coffee

Some coffees stand out because of their flavor. Others stay with you because of the people behind them.

For Great Circle Coffee, Finca El Socorro represents both.

Located in the hills of Palencia, Guatemala, El Socorro is a multi-generational family farm led by producer Juan Diego de la Cerda — one of Guatemala’s most respected and innovative coffee producers. Over the years, his commitment to quality, sustainability, and careful experimentation has earned international recognition, including multiple Cup of Excellence awards.

But beyond the awards and accolades, what makes El Socorro special to us is the relationship behind the coffee.

Great Circle founder Sergio Boppel, who also comes from a Guatemalan coffee family, has maintained a long-term friendship and business relationship with Juan Diego through Guatemala’s close-knit coffee community and shared passion for exceptional coffee.

That partnership has always been rooted in mutual respect:
they farm with purpose, and we roast with intention.

Together, we aim to honor the quiet brilliance that makes Guatemalan coffees unforgettable.

A Farm Known for Innovation and Care

Finca El Socorro has been in the de la Cerda family for generations. Situated at high elevations with volcanic soil and a unique microclimate, the farm produces coffees with remarkable clarity, elegance, and complexity.

Juan Diego is known throughout the coffee world for his meticulous approach to cultivation and processing. Every detail — from harvesting to drying — is managed with extraordinary care to highlight the distinct character of each variety grown on the farm.

The result is coffee that feels expressive without losing balance.

At Great Circle Coffee, we are especially drawn to coffees that combine craftsmanship with approachability — coffees that feel memorable while still inviting another cup. El Socorro consistently reflects that philosophy.

Award-Winning Varieties from El Socorro

Alongside the farm’s celebrated Gesha, we’re proud to share other remarkable varieties from El Socorro, including Pacamara, Java and the farm’s award-winning Maracaturra.

Each coffee reflects the same origin through a different lens — shaped by volcanic soil, elevation, climate, and meticulous farming practices.

It’s one of the reasons we love returning to El Socorro year after year:
the coffees are distinct, expressive, and deeply connected to place.

Gesha

El Socorro’s washed Gesha is a truly stunning coffee and one of the farm’s most internationally recognized offerings.

The Gesha varietal is celebrated for its pronounced florals, layered sweetness, and elegant mouthfeel, and El Socorro’s version beautifully reflects those qualities. Delicate notes of jasmine, lavender, peach, and honey unfold over a tea-like body that lingers gracefully on the palate.

What makes this coffee especially meaningful is not only the cup itself, but the years of care, experimentation, and dedication behind it.

Maracaturra

El Socorro’s Maracaturra has become one of our favorite returning coffees. Known for its complexity and structure, it offers a vibrant and expressive profile while maintaining the balance and clarity that define the farm’s coffees.

Pacamara

Pacamara from El Socorro showcases another side of the farm — layered sweetness, rich texture, and a dynamic cup profile shaped by the farm’s unique growing conditions.

Together, these coffees demonstrate how different varieties from the same remarkable farm can shine in their own beautiful ways.

Java

El Socorro’s Java variety is another beautiful example of the balance and elegance that define coffees from Juan Diego de la Cerda’s farm. Fully washed and grown at high elevations in Palencia, this coffee offers a clean, bright, and refined cup profile with notes of caramel, mandarin orange, soft florals, and creamy chocolate. Its sweetness and structure make it especially versatile — equally stunning as a medium roast espresso or as a delicate and expressive filter coffee. We’ve hoped to feature this coffee on our menu for years, and it continues to remind us why El Socorro remains one of Guatemala’s most celebrated farms.

Coffee Rooted in Connection

Coffee is often described through flavor notes and processing methods, but at its heart, coffee is about people.

The relationships between producers, roasters, cafés, and customers are what make specialty coffee meaningful and sustainable over time.

For Sergio, sourcing coffees from Guatemala carries a personal significance. Growing up connected to Guatemala’s coffee community created an early appreciation not only for exceptional coffee, but also for the families and work behind it.

Relationships like the one with Juan Diego reflect what Great Circle Coffee believes coffee can be:
thoughtful, welcoming, and rooted in connection.

Discover Coffees from Finca El Socorro

Coffees from Finca El Socorro continue to remind us why we fell in love with coffee in the first place — the balance between nature, craft, and human connection.

At Great Circle Coffee, we’re proud to share these coffees with our community and to continue building relationships that honor the people behind every cup.

Explore our current Guatemala coffees and seasonal releases at  Great Circle Coffee.

In this photo: Sergio Boppel and Juand Diego De La Cerda cupping El Socorro coffees in Guatemala May 2026