The Math Teacher Who Became a Coffee Farmer: Huver Castillo and the Rocket Flower Lot
At Motobean, we believe the best coffees come with the best stories. Our exciting new Rocket Flower lot is rooted in the history of Finca El Paseo, but its unique quality is a reflection of the farmer himself: Huver Castillo.
Huver is a third-generation coffee grower, but his path to farming was anything but traditional. Until just a few years ago (before 2015), he was dedicated to shaping young minds as a math teacher at a school in Nariño.
A Return to the Land
Despite growing up surrounded by coffee, Huver's close, hands-on relationship with the farm is a recent development. Driven by a desire to honor his family's legacy, he stepped away from the classroom to embrace the life of a coffee producer.
Today, he works alongside his father on Finca El Paseo, blending generations of inherited knowledge with the analytical, focused approach one might expect from a former math teacher. This unique perspective is exactly what drives innovation and precision in specialty processing.
Finca El Paseo: A High-Altitude Haven
El Paseo is a truly beautiful farm, nestled on the Suma Paz trail near Buesaco, Nariño. It has been in the Castillo family for over 20 years and is one of three farms they own.
The farm’s high-altitude range of 1750 meters to 1950 meters is critical. These elevations, combined with the presence of several native shade trees, create a cool, slow maturation environment for the coffee cherries. This slow development concentrates the sugars and complex acids, directly contributing to the clean, vibrant, and powerful flavors you find in our Rocket Flower coffee. The farm is situated beautifully on the slopes, offering breathtaking views overlooking the Buesaco valley.
When you brew a cup of Rocket Flower, you are celebrating Huver’s commitment: a dedication that traded the chalkboard for the coffee cherry to produce something truly exceptional.