Also of Interest
Guatemala
Guatemala is the 10th largest coffee origin in the world, blessed with over 300 microclimates, rich volcanic soil and a long artisanal tradition of coffee production. Olam is one of the country’s top 4 coffee exporters.
Harvesting
October–April
Altitude
3,000–6,000 feet
Shipping
December–September
Varietals
98% Arabica, 2% Robusta
Flavors
While coffee from here almost always possesses a full body, chocolate notes, and marked acidity, the various microclimates lead to a wide variety of cup characteristic.
The History of Guatemalan Coffee
Although coffee was brought over from the Caribbean in the mid-18th century by Jesuit priests, it was used primarily as an ornamental plant and garden crop for 100 years in Guatemala. Coffee wasn’t widely traded, however, until commercial production began in the 1850s.
The volcanic soil and various micro-climates proved ideal for growing coffee in Guatemala. Coffee, within a generation, became the country’s most important crop. In 1860, Guatemala exported 140,000 pounds of coffee, and just 25 years later, the country was exporting over 40 million pounds. Large numbers of coffee farmers were German immigrants responsible for many inventions and innovations related to coffee milling. Most of Guatemala’s coffee was exported to Germany until the First World War, when exports shifted to the United States.test
Regions
Anacafé, the coffee producers association in Guatemala, identifies seven growing regions, though each region may contain many different climates and soils. The growing regions are Fraijanes, the plateau south of Guatemala City; Coban, a rainforest region in the center of the country; Huehuetenango, highlands near the border with Mexico; Atitlan, primarily the volcanic mountains on the Pacific side of Lake Atitlan; San Marcos, between Huehuetenango and the Pacific Ocean; Oriente, the driest of the growing regions located near the eastern border with Honduras; and the most famous of all, Antigua, nestled among the volcanoes an hour’s drive southwest of Guatemala City.
