Jorge Lagos & Entizar Zalan.
FINCA SANTA TERESA, NICARAGUA
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Partners in Exceptional Coffee and Ethical Farming
We first met Jorge Lagos in 2013 at a local coffee mill in Nueva Segovia, just outside the town of Ocotal. From the moment we spoke, his deep passion for coffee farming and extraordinary expertise stood out. A graduate of one of the most prestigious agricultural universities in the region, Jorge returned to his family’s farm determined to elevate coffee production through innovative, sustainable farming practices.
Not long after, Jorge was joined by his wife and business partner, Entizar. Together, they’ve grown their farm into a thriving, community-focused operation. During harvest season, they employ over 60 local workers to handpick and dry their coffee—ensuring quality every step of the way. The beans are then carefully processed and shipped directly to Think Coffee, thanks to our direct-trade partnership with Jorge and Entizar.
Our relationship with them is rooted in shared values and mutual respect. We’ve visited their farm regularly—typically twice a year for the past decade—and in recent years, Jorge and Entizar have been visiting us in New York City.
Beyond producing some of the finest coffee in the region, Jorge and Entizar are committed to fair labor practices. We’ve verified that they pay all workers—both full-time and seasonal—a livable wage. Together, we’ve also launched a Common Good Project to help restore and improve housing for their farmworkers, deepening our impact on the community that makes this coffee possible.
When you enjoy a cup of coffee sourced from Jorge and Entizar’s farm, you’re not just tasting exceptional quality—you’re supporting ethical practices, sustainability, and a long-standing partnership built on trust.
fair and livable wages.
finca santa teresa
FAIR AND LIVABLE WAGE REPORT
THE STANDARD
Our goal is to ensure a fair and livable wage for everyone who works on the farm. A “fair and livable wage” is generally understood to mean a wage sufficient to enable workers and their families to meet their basic needs. According to the “Living Wage Update Report: Northwest Nicaragua 2024” published by the Global Living Wage Coalition, the living wage standard was 13,495 cordoba or $368 monthly in 2024, which was the standard in effect when the 2024-25 harvest started at Finca Santa Teresa.
75%
OF THE WORLDS
COFFEE FARMERS
ARE ESTIMATED TO LIVE
BELOW THE POVERTY LINE
(PERFECT DAILY GRIND)
meeting the standard
For workers who get paid by Jorge based on the amount of coffee they pick, we verified that the typical picker received the equivalent of 21,600 cordoba or $587, which exceeds the standard established by the Global Living Wage Coalition.
For workers who get paid on salary by Jorge, we verified that the typical worker received the equivalent of 16,796 cordoba or $456, which exceeds the standard established by the Global Living Wage Coalition.
finca santa teresa
FAIR AND LIVABLE WAGE REPORT
THE STANDARD
Our goal is to ensure a fair and livable wage for everyone who works on the farm. A “fair and livable wage” is generally understood to mean a wage sufficient to enable workers and their families to meet their basic needs. According to the “Living Wage Update Report: Northwest Nicaragua 2024” published by the Global Living Wage Coalition, the living wage standard was 13,495 cordoba or $368 monthly in 2024, which was the standard in effect when the 2024-25 harvest started at Finca Santa Teresa.
75%
OF THE WORLDS
COFFEE FARMERS
ARE ESTIMATED TO LIVE
BELOW THE POVERTY LINE
(PERFECT DAILY GRIND)
meeting the standard
For workers who get paid by Jorge based on the amount of coffee they pick, we verified that the typical picker received the equivalent of 21,600 cordoba or $587, which exceeds the standard established by the Global Living Wage Coalition.
For workers who get paid on salary by Jorge, we verified that the typical worker received the equivalent of 16,796 cordoba or $456, which exceeds the standard established by the Global Living Wage Coalition.
project common good.
86 FARMWORKER HOMES REFURBISHED.
Away from the farm, coffee laborers often live in difficult conditions, with leaky roofs, dirt floors, no front door, and no electricity or running water. Housing conditions are often unsanitary and unsafe, presenting health risks, especially to small children and the elderly.
The farmworker communities around Dipilto, Nicaragua are no different.
86 FARMWORKER HOMES REFURBISHED.
Away from the farm, coffee laborers often live in difficult conditions, with leaky roofs, dirt floors, no front door, and no electricity or running water. Housing conditions are often unsanitary and unsafe, presenting health risks, especially to small children and the elderly.
The farmworker communities around Dipilto, Nicaragua are no different.
Since 2017, Think Coffee and farmer Jorge Lagos have restored 86 homes in Nueva Segovia to safer and more comfortable conditions – with more home restorations on the way. Together with Jorge Lagos and Entizar Zalan, we have delivered 400 bags of cement, 200 sheets of roofing material, 40 front doors and more than 10 tons of other construction materials.
For every pound of coffee imported by Think from Santa Teresa, $0.20 is allocated to funding our project to improve worker housing conditions near Dipilto.
Since 2017, Think Coffee and farmer Jorge Lagos have restored 86 homes in Nueva Segovia to safer and more comfortable conditions – with more home restorations on the way. Together with Jorge Lagos and Entizar Zalan, we have delivered 400 bags of cement, 200 sheets of roofing material, 40 front doors and more than 10 tons of other construction materials.
For every pound of coffee imported by Think from Santa Teresa, $0.20 is allocated to funding our project to improve worker housing conditions near Dipilto.
