Guillermo Hoyos is a coffee grower by choice and by conviction.
He was born in Cauca and, more than 30 years ago, moved to Huila in search of work and an opportunity to build a life. He began as a farm laborer, started a family, and today—together with his wife, children, and grandchildren—depends on coffee as their livelihood, home, and purpose.
At 58 years old, Guillermo carries a life shaped by steady work. He grew up seeing coffee cultivated in rudimentary ways, measured by cups rather than weight, and sold without fair pricing. Over time, he came to understand that coffee was not just a crop—it was dignity, shelter, and food.
Guillermo has never considered leaving coffee. Nor the farm. Nor life in the countryside.
For him, coffee represents peace, tranquility, and community. It is forest, wildlife, a family garden—and above all, an honest way of living.
EL RECUERDO
The farm is called El Recuerdo (“The Memory”), and its name is deeply meaningful.
It is an expression of gratitude toward his mother-in-law, María Carolina Campos, who generously allowed the family to work the land, pay for it little by little, and build a home. Today, at 95 years old, she remains a living part of that story.
At El Recuerdo, Guillermo and his family grow coffee alongside plantain, cassava, and other crops. It is a simple, diverse, and carefully tended system a place where work is done calmly, but with purpose.
Guillermo pays close attention to:
Seed selection
Keeping the soil clean without contamination
Harvesting only ripe cherries
Maintaining a clean wet mill
Fostering harmony among everyone who works on the farm
For him, quality is not only technical. It is respect for the land and for people.
"FAMILY COMES FIRST".
For years, Guillermo sold his coffee to whoever showed up first, at whatever price was offered. There was little recognition of the work behind it.
That began to change. Coffee allowed his family to build a home, send their children to school, eat better, dress better, and live with more stability.
Today, through Unchained, Guillermo sees a long-held dream within reach: becoming a producer-exporter, without intermediaries, and with control over his work and its value.
For him, coffee is more than income.
It’s family. Community. Dignity.
And that’s what Unchained exists to change.
INFO
Phone: +57 (315) 475-8659
E-mail: gillohoyos23@gmail.com
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