Join us for the adventure of a lifetime at Spirit Mountain Coffee Farm in the Dominican Republic.
If you’ve ever sipped a cup of coffee and thought, “I’d like to know where this came from,” we’re here to give you more than just a story. We’ll hand you a machete (don’t worry, it’s symbolic… at first) and take you on a guided trek through the real world of coffee farming. This is not your typical tourist experience.
Forget the Brochure. This is Real Life.
You’ll stay on a working farm, not in a five-star hotel with infinity pools and pillow menus. Instead, we offer mountains with names, not stars. You’ll sleep at our rustic-but-charming Camp Spirit Discovery, where the air is fresh, the campfire stories are legendary, and the mornings begin with the hauntingly beautiful song of the Rufous-throated Solitaire (Google it—it’s magical).
From Harvesting to Cupping: You’re in It Now
Our curated program puts you right into the thick of it—literally. You’ll start your day harvesting coffee cherries on steep mountain slopes. You’ll learn to differentiate between the perfect cherry (deep red, sweet, and plump) and the rogue ones that will earn you a polite-but-stern headshake from the farm crew.
Later, you’ll:
- Ferment, Wash, and Dry Coffee: Discover why coffee needs just the right amount of fermentation—too little and it’s bland, too much and… well, you’ll learn.
- Cup Coffee Like a Pro: Ever wonder how coffee pros slurp so loudly without spilling? You’ll master that skill while refining your palate. We’ll introduce you to tasting notes like “stone fruit,” “chocolate undertones,” and “a hint of citrus,” but we’ll also keep it real—sometimes coffee just tastes like really good coffee.
- Visit the Dry Mill: We’ll head to Jarabacoa, where beans are sorted, polished, and graded before they head off to the world’s roasters. If you’ve ever been mesmerized by machines doing oddly satisfying work—this stop is for you.
Farm Life is Real Life
You’ll meet the crew—the real heroes of this operation—who live and breathe coffee farming. And yes, they walk miles every day to reach the farm, uphill both ways. Our farm team is a wealth of knowledge, and their smiles are as warm as the fresh coffee you’ll drink every morning.
What Makes Spirit Mountain Unique?
- Direct Connection to the Owners: You’ll spend time with Kathryn Lake, founder of Farm to Cup Coffee Consulting, and the one-woman powerhouse who’s dedicated her career to bridging the gap between farmers and consumers. Growing up on this farm, Kathryn learned early how much blood, sweat, and dirt (lots of dirt) go into a cup of coffee.
- No Middlemen, No Filters: This is an intimate, no-fluff experience. We don’t just show you the pretty parts—we show you the heart of coffee farming, the struggles, and the triumphs.
- Adventure + Luxury (Kind of): After three full days of farm life, we’ll whisk you off to one of the most beautiful beaches in the Caribbean for a well-earned break. Think turquoise water, white sand, and time to process all that you’ve learned—preferably with a cold beverage in hand.
What You’ll Walk Away With (Besides Red Dirt on Your Shoes):
- A profound understanding of how coffee goes from a cherry on a tree to a perfectly roasted bean.
- Respect for the people behind every cup.
- New friends, new skills, and probably a few sore muscles.
- A ridiculous number of photos to show off on Instagram.
Why This Trip is a No-Brainer
We’ve made it easy for you. You arrive, and we take care of the rest—airport pickup, meals, accommodations, and all the curated coffee experiences. If you’ve got questions, ask. We love questions. In fact, Kathryn will probably ask you more questions than you’ll ask her.
So, whether you’re a roaster, café owner, barista, or coffee fanatic looking to level up your coffee knowledge (and have an unforgettable adventure while you’re at it), this is your trip.
Come prepared. Leave transformed. Go home a storyteller.
We can’t wait to share Spirit Mountain with you.
Hasta pronto,
Chad Wallace & Kathryn Lake
