The Mill City Times Interview: Carlos Palacios, Owner, Café Palmira

Article by Becky Fillinger, photos provided by Café Palmira 

How does your morning coffee make its way from grower to your cup? We talked to Carlos Palacios, Owner of Café Palmira about his direct farm to market model.

Q:  Your company, Café Palmira is a Minneapolis-based business that imports high-quality Arabica coffee beans direct from your family farm in Guatemala. Tell us about the notion of selling directly from your farm.

A:  It started when I moved to Minnesota with my family 15 years ago. I was looking for a way to bring our coffee here so that Twin Cities’ customers could taste a really good coffee. It took me years to find the perfect way to do it. I wanted the coffee to taste as fresh as when we drink it in Guatemala. I was able to locate great local roasters, so I started the business in 2008. 

Find Carlos Palacios, Owner of Café Palmira, Saturdays thru October at the Mill City Farmers Market in front of the Guthrie Theater.

Q:  Tell us about shade-grown coffee.

A:  Our Arabica beans have grown under a canopy of trees, which is much better for the environment than other farming methods. The trees create a protective barrier to attract birds and other wildlife which keeps insects away from the plants. For that reason, we do not need to use pesticides. Our farm is at an elevation of 1,800 to 2,000 meters (about 5,900 to 6,500 feet), and that makes the perfect weather for growing coffee.

Q:  Has the farm acreage grown since you began operations?

A:  Yes, but that is a roller coaster experience with ups and downs. We suffered a coffee rust not long ago – the fungus decimated our plants and we had to start all over again. 

Q:  Has the success of your business inspired other Guatemalan farmers to sell directly to markets?

A:  Yes, but it is difficult because although they are inspired, it is takes years to find markets outside of the country. A loyal clientele takes time to develop.   

Q:  Please tell us your immigration story.

A:  My wife, Katie Anfinson, was a Peace Corps worker in Guatemala. We dated for a few years, got married and then moved to the U.S. – first to Massachusetts and then to Minnesota. We started bringing the coffee in our luggage to allow people an opportunity to try it. Roasting the beans in Minnesota gives the freshest coffee taste. We began selling my family’s coffee directly to coffee shops, co-ops and individual customers “to eliminate the middle man.” 

Q:  Is there a time when you will take visitors to your farm to help with the harvest? I imagine this as a form of eco-volunteerism/learning experience.

A:  I always think about bringing people to the farm. My family has been growing beans for decades at the northwestern side of Guatemala, in a region called Huehuetenango. It is in a beautiful place up in a mountain but it is really far from the city with difficult access. It is located right at the border of Mexico and takes about eight hours travel time from Guatemala City to get there.

Q:  Is it important to you to give back to the community?

A:  It is always important for me to give back. I have a community in the Twin Cities and in Guatemala. My community in Guatemala lives on the farm and does all the labor. I am protective of my workers. I alone do the job of bringing the beans to Minnesota. I don’t have a middle man involved in the process so I can pay better wages to my workers.

Q:  Has COVID-19 impacted your operations?

A:  Yes, of course. We are managing the situation the best we can, especially doing more door to door deliveries. Roasters have not purchased the same amount of green beans from us since so many coffee shops have closed or reduced their hours of operation. 

Q:  How can we stay in touch with you?

A:  We sell our coffee, medium and dark roast, at the Mill City Farmers Market, St. Paul Farmers Market, Kingfield Farmers Market and the Northeast Minneapolis Farmers Market. We will also deliver to your door.  Please follow us on Facebook and call or email us with questions or to order at 651-285-3884 and cafepalmira@yahoo.com.

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About Becky Fillinger

I’ve been a resident of the Mill District only since July 2019, but have visited the Guthrie, the Farmers Market, restaurants and friends in the area for many years prior to making the leap to Minneapolis. I’ve lived in many places (and climates) in the US and can testify that our cultural events, bicycle and hiking trails, parks and green spaces, museums, diverse neighborhoods and wonderful restaurants put Minnesota and Minneapolis high on my best places list. I’m a member of the Mill City Singers and look forward to our choir practices and performances.

One of my main interests is community - a very broad concept. For me it means bringing people together with common interests to form meaningful relationships. I look forward to reporting on businesses and individuals in our neighborhoods. Feel free to drop me an email at becky_fillinger@hotmail.com with your thoughts and ideas for stories.