A Mountaineer’s New Peak

Pepe Jijón has spent his life conquering some of the world’s highest peaks. As a mountaineer, he pushed past limits, embraced the elements, and saw landscapes few ever experience.

But another great challenge came after he descended—transforming his family farm, Finca Soledad, into a producer of some of Ecuador’s finest specialty coffee. The farm is a sanctuary for his employees, who are mostly women. Pepe is able to pay them competitive wages and pay them weekly to help them care for their families.

His story is one of adventure, perseverance, and a deep respect for nature.

Meet Pepe Jijón: The Mountaineer Behind the Beans

Pepe Jijón’s journey didn’t begin on a coffee farm. Before tending to coffee trees, he stood atop the highest peak on every continent.

His experiences shaped his philosophy on persistence and sustainability. He understands the value of adapting to nature rather than controlling it. This same philosophy now drives his farming methods at Finca Soledad.

Finca Soledad: Coffee Grown in the Cloud Forest

Nestled in Ecuador’s Intag Valley, Finca Soledad thrives in a biodiverse cloud forest where rich volcanic soil, high altitude, and steady rainfall create ideal conditions for growing complex, flavorful coffee.

The cool temperatures and slow cherry maturation enhance sweetness and complexity. Reforestation, organic farming, and agroforestry ensure that coffee cultivation contributes to, rather than harms, the surrounding ecosystem.

Farming and Processing: A Focus on Biodiversity

Pepe Jijón embraces biodynamic farming, working with nature instead of against it. Finca Soledad uses minimal chemical inputs and supports soil regeneration.

His coffee is organic and shade grown. Coffee plants grow under a natural canopy, mimicking their original forest habitat and protecting native wildlife. Ripe cherries are handpicked to ensure the highest quality beans.

Social and Environmental Impact

Finca Soledad is more than a coffee farm. It is part of a movement toward ethical, sustainable coffee production.

Pepe works closely with neighboring farmers, sharing sustainable practices and ensuring fair wages. The farm acts as a natural corridor for wildlife, protecting native species while cultivating coffee.

By maintaining close relationships with roasters and consumers, Finca Soledad ensures that every step of the supply chain values both quality and ethics.

Each purchase of Finca Soledad coffee is an investment in both quality and sustainability.

The Reserve Coffee Offering

Half Mile Coffee’s Finca Soledad Reserve is a limited-edition lot. Only small quantities are available due to the farm’s commitment to quality over volume.

What Makes It Special?

Grown at high altitude, enhancing flavor clarity

Hand-selected cherries for peak ripeness

Processed using meticulous drying techniques to refine sweetness and complexity

This offering is an opportunity to taste a coffee that embodies the perseverance and vision of a mountaineer turned coffee producer.

Extremely Limited Worldwide

Now is the only time to buy this coffee anywhere around the world. Finca Soledad only farms four of his 120 hectares of land for coffee. This amounts to less than one container of coffee.

There is no roastery that has a large quantity, and it will be gone until next season. If you miss it, you will have to wait to try and grab a bag.

We are overjoyed to offer this opportunity.