Guatemala is a coffee country with a centuries-old tradition. Coffee has been cultivated here since the middle of the 18th century . As in many Central American countries of origin, Guatemala was one of the world's largest coffee exporters in the past. This was mainly due to the exceptionally good quality of coffee from Guatemala. Regular political unrest in the Central American country repeatedly brought coffee cultivation and trade to a standstill. Today, the political situation in Guatemala has largely stabilized. The aim now is to build on past successes.
Cultivation in Guatemala
Most of the coffee is grown in the southern part of Guatemala. This is mainly because the volcanic landscape and the very fertile soil there offer particularly good conditions for the cultivation and production of coffee. The growing areas are often at an altitude of between 500 and 1,200 meters above sea level . The most important regions in Guatemala include Antigua, Fraijanes, San Marcos and Huehuetenango .
Special highland coffees
Coffee from the highlands of Guatemala (around 1,500 m altitude) is generally of excellent quality. The plants have more time to grow due to the climatic conditions there, which has a positive effect on the taste of the coffee.
Highland coffee from Guatemala is often classified as High Grown (SHG) due to the altitude at which it is grown. Arabica is predominantly grown in Guatemala. This includes the varieties Caturra & Bourbon . However, individual Robusta varieties are also cultivated on the west coast of the country.
This is what coffee from Guatemala tastes like
The coffee beans from the Central American state impress with a strong cup profile . Nevertheless, the exquisite coffees are comparatively mild and very digestible. However, it also depends on the growing region of the coffees in Guatemala. Therefore, Guatemalan coffee also offers a very varied taste experience. Some variations play with sweetness and offer fine chocolate notes with subtle caramel accents . Other varieties score with a special spiciness that can even have smoky notes. A third group scores with aromas that are reminiscent of citrus fruits or flowers .
Our coffee from Guatemala
Our coffee from Guatemala comes from the Pueblo Nuevo Viñas growing area in the Santa Rosa region of the Finca Santa Isabel, after which the coffee was named. The Keller family has been cultivating organic coffee there for several generations.
The Catimor variety is preferably grown there, which is known for its milk chocolate taste with fine, fruity aromas. The Guatemala Santa Isabel simply impresses with its complex cup profile in every cup. In our coffee roastery, the selected coffee beans are refined gently and sustainably. Thanks to the medium roast, the coffee is suitable for every preparation method . The Guatemala Santa Isabel also has an organic certificate .
Farmer siblings Alex & Martin Keller
The Finca Santa Isabel has been run by the Keller family for years. Since then, the finca has been passed down and developed from one generation to the next. The focus for several years has been on sustainability and a biodynamic cycle . The coffee has been certified organic for almost ten years now. Preparations for DEMETER certification are currently underway.
Alex and Martin have set themselves the goal of making all work steps on the coffee farm as environmentally friendly as possible. This starts with the production of their own fertilizer and continues with their own microorganisms and the export of the green coffee. For the latter, the Kellers use upcycled denim sacks made from 100 percent cotton . These come from leftovers from jeans production. This stops the import of PPT and jute sacks from China and thus also reduces CO2. We also process the sacks further. In our online shop you can find the upcycling shopper made from denim coffee sacks ; you can also buy the sacks yourself to realize your creative upcycling ideas. Have fun and #staywild !
