In 1997, Maria inherited land from her father in Junin, Peru. When Maria and Francisco first got the land it was a forest. Their first task was to clear it out to make it a more sustainable plot for their growing family. There were many dead shrubs and weeds that blanketed the forest floor and it was very dark and overshadowed by the gigantic trees. By clearing the area out, it allowed for the sunlight and wind to pass through.

Maria and Francisco started planting coffee plants right away in hopes to provide for their family. At the time, they had a son, Efer, who was born with a large vascular malformation on his face. Efer and his father, Francisco, sought help from the local orphanage called Casa Hogar Juan Pablo II who was known for their mission work and providing medical treatment to those who need it. As it turns out, Peru did not have the resources or technology needed to address this problem. With help from many gracious people including the Ray Tye Foundation, Efer was flown to the United States to receive the medical care he needed when he was 7 years old, all while speaking no English. Francisco and Maria were not able to come with so he was placed with a family who would care for him and help him seek the medical care he needed. A few surgeries turned into a more complicated journey which required him to stay in the United States long term and eventually become adopted by the family.

Efer has tackled many hurdles thrown his way in life. He completed high school and has continued his education at vocational school. He’s never lost sight of where he came from and the sacrifices his parents had to make in order to give him a better life. His dream is to help his family as well as other small farmers in Peru distribute their sustainable and ethically sourced specialty coffee beans. The coffee business has been in their family for 28 years. It is here that MF Coffee Roastery has come to life.