Marcelessa - Juan Diego De La Cerda, Guatemala

Juan Diego De La Cerda grows the Marcelessa hybrid high in the volcanic soils of Guatemala—a variety that stands as a glimpse into coffee’s resilient future. Bred for both exceptional flavor and climate adaptability, Marcelessa thrives where rising temperatures and unpredictable rainfall threaten traditional varieties. Juan Diego’s careful cultivation combines innovation and heritage, producing coffees that burst with sweetness and complexity while proving that sustainability and excellence can grow side by side in a changing world.

The Marcelessa hybrid is a modern cultivar born from the need to protect coffee’s future—a variety that thrives in the face of rising temperatures, pests, and shifting climates without sacrificing sweetness or clarity in the cup. At Torque, we champion producers like Juan Diego De La Cerda, modern-day coffee heroes who embrace innovation to keep coffee vibrant and sustainable for generations to come. Their work with cultivars like Marcelessa isn’t just farming—it’s safeguarding the future of beautiful coffee.

We have been working with Juan Diego since 2009. El Socorro is one of the most award winning fincas in all of Guatemala and is a coffee farm of unsurpassable beauty in the highlands of Central Guatemala roughly 50 kilometers from Guatemala City. El Socorro’s prized coffees are a result of its high altitude location combined with University trained agronomist Juan Diego’s great attention to detail. He has spurred the farm's focus on quality coffee production with advanced processing techniques including warm water fermentation, which speeds up the fermentation process. In this shorter period of fermentation, the coffee grain keeps its density & maintains the coffee's components intact.

Coffee Producer: El Socorro Guatemala