GUATEMALA SHB EP - Regular Roast

This is a great daily drinker or house coffee!

About This Coffee:

Guatemala is a premier global producer of high-quality, shade-grown Arabica coffee, characterized by its volcanic soil, high altitudes (up to 1,500+ meters), and distinct microclimates. Key regions like Antigua, Huehuetenango, and Cobán produce beans with complex,, chocolatey, and citrusy profiles, often processed using the washed method. Over 125,000 families, mostly smallholders, cultivate coffee under shade for sustainable, high-quality yields.

How Coffee is Grown in Guatemala

Volcanic Environment: Coffee is cultivated in eight primary regions with rich, mineral-dense, volcanic soil.

High Altitude & Shade: Most coffee is grown at altitudes between 500 and 1,500+ meters above sea level. It is predominantly shade-grown, which enhances biodiversity and protects the plants.

Optimal Temperature: Coffee thrives in temperatures between 16 to 32°C (60 to 90°F).

Processing: The majority of Guatemalan coffee is washed (fermented and washed), though some farmers are experimenting with natural and honey processes.

Challenges: The industry is battling coffee leaf rust, with only about 30% of trees being resistant, leading to efforts for replanting.

Key Coffee Varieties and Regions

Varieties: Primarily Arabica (Bourbon, Caturra, Catuai, Typica, Pache), with increasing cultivation of specialty beans like Geisha and Pacamara.

Key Growing Regions:

Antigua: Known for rich volcanic soil, producing balanced coffee with chocolate/caramel notes.

Huehuetenango: High-altitude, producing, complex, fruity, and acidic beans.

Cobán: Humid and rainy, with vibrant, spicy, and fruity characteristics.

Atitlán: Volcanic soil,, high altitude, with intense flavor profiles.

Fraijanes Plateau: High altitude,, volcanic soil,, producing, very, consistent, coffee.

Volcan San Marcos: Known for the earliest harvest,, and, high, rainfall.

Nuevo Oriente: A, region, with, metamorphic, soil,.

Rainforest Coban: Known for, high, humidity, and, distinct, flavor,.

Significance of Guatemalan Coffee

Economic Impact: Coffee is a major export, second only to sugar, employing over 500,000 people annually.

Reputation: The country is known for producing high-grade coffee, often ranking second behind Colombia in quality production.

Heritage: Coffee production is considered an "Intangible Heritage of the Guatemalan Nation".