Day two in the books! Today involved a lot of walking! I easily hit my step goal before lunch! But the reward of taste testing made up for it! We started the day off with a tour of the Doka Coffee Plantation and then headed to the biggest strawberry farm I’ve ever seen.
After seeing both farms, it became crystal clear how different their growing conditions are. Producing coffee requires a lot more steps and time rather than growing strawberries. Coffee thrives in tropical climates, at higher altitudes with mild temperatures and nutrient-rich volcanic soil. Strawberries, on the other hand, are a bit more down-to-earth (literally). They grow best in cooler, temperate regions with well-drained soil and a consistent water supply. One of the biggest surprises? Just how long coffee takes to grow. Coffee trees need 3 to 4 years before they even think about producing beans, and even then, the harvesting is extremely selective. I was shocked to find out that it takes 25 coffee cherries just to make one shot of espresso. No wonder it is so strong. Meanwhile, strawberries grow way faster and need to be picked often during their short season (they’re high maintenance, but in a lovable way.)
At Doka, the wet milling process for coffee was super interesting. It’s not super high-tech, but it’s efficient and helps preserve the quality of the beans. The strawberry farm used a plastic-over-mulch method to conserve water and protect the plants. What really stood out at both farms was the shared commitment to quality. You could see how much pride the teams take in their work. At Doka, they emphasized quality over quantity, which made me wonder — is there a way to scale up without sacrificing what makes it so special?
Today gave me a much deeper appreciation for two of my everyday favorites: coffee and strawberries. There’s so much more that goes into every cup and every bite than I ever realized. And as Claire wisely told us at the farm: “Take your time and enjoy the produce.” In other words, pause, appreciate, and maybe try not drinking your coffee in one sip!
