Guatemalan Coffee Types

Guatemalan Coffee Types

Since the early 1990s, Guatemala has led a pioneering effort to define the country’s coffee-producing regions based of geographic, climatic, and coffee characteristics and cup profiles.

As a result, eight distinct regions producing "Strictly Hard Bean" quality coffees within defined microclimates have been identified, awarding coffee enthusiast with eight specialty coffees with unique characteristics.

-Antiguan: coffee is known for it's full and velvety body, rich aroma, and lively acidity. Bourbon, Caturra, and Catuai beans are grown and harvested between January and March.

-Fraijanes Plateau: Coffee from this region is known for it's soft aroma, full body, and marked acidity. This coffee is cultivated at 4,000 to 5,000 feet year round. The coffee is rated the hardest in all of Guatemala.

-Rainforest Cobán: Coffee from this region results in a strictly hard result. Bourbon, Maragogype, Catuai, Caturra, and Pache beans are grown here, which produces a medium body, light acidity, fruit like flavors, and a fragrant aroma. This coffee is harvested from December to March.

-Highland Huehue: Coffee from this region usually boasts beautiful appearance and uniform maturation due to the subtropical climates. Bourbon, Caturra, and Catuai coffee beans are grown. The flowering is homogenous which produces a winey, high-quality cup. This coffee is harvested from January to April.

-Traditional Atitlan coffee comes from the region surrounding Lake Atitlan in Guatemala. There is always at least 50 mm of rainfall per month in the region. The majority of beans grown is Bourbon, but Typica, Caturra, and Catuai is also grown. The coffee is aromatic with a crisp acidity and full body.

-Volcanic San Marcos: This region is the warmest of all Guatemalan coffee producing regions and also has the highest amount of rainfall. Bourbon, Caturra, and Catuai beans are grown and harvested from December to March.

-The New Oriente produces aromatic, marked acidity, and full bodied coffee. Bourbon, Catuai, Caturra, and Pache coffee beans are all grown in the New Oriente region and coffees are harvested from December to March.