Guatemala
We focus a lot on sourcing green coffee beans from Guatemala because we truly believe it is the crown jewel of Central America in terms of coffee. In particular, through our partners and Farm Gate direct buying, we are able to source lots from a range of small-holder farmers in some great coffee growing micro regions. That's why we focus so much energy on sourcing our Guatemalan coffees through our program, which in Huehuetenango we call Xinabajul after the local name for the area.
So why can Guatemalan coffee be so special? The cup character! Great Guatemalan coffees have a bright cup, floral hints, clean fruited notes, moderate body, and a lingering clean aftertaste. With varying qualities, farms ranging from huge estates to tiny small-holders perched on steep slopes, and different cup characteristics from within the same micro-regions, there is much to learn to appreciate the complexity of Guatemala coffee.
There are diverse growing regions within Guatemala that have the altitude, soil, and climate conditions to produce great coffee. Antigua is home to some of the older estates in Latin American coffee, some handed down from original land grants within the same family. Nearby Acatenango has some great quality, as well as Chimaltenango and Patzun. We focus a lot on Huehuetenango though, because of our history with finding great coffee there via our farmer connections. There are photos, videos, and extended Guatemala coffee descriptions in our Coffee Library!