Guatemala Seleccion Baja Verapaz | Covoya Coffee Covoya Coffee

Bag Weight	69 KG BAG
Harvest Season	2022/23
Status	Spot
Lot Number	P611109-1

About This Coffee

Cubulco is a municipality located in the department of Baja Verapaz, Guatemala. It is situated in the central part of the country, in the Sierra de Chuacús mountain range. Cubulco is known for its scenic landscapes, rich cultural heritage, and coffee production.

Many coffee farms in Cubulco are owned and operated by small-scale farmers, often members of indigenous communities. These farmers typically practice traditional and sustainable farming methods, cultivating coffee alongside other crops such as corn, beans, and fruit trees. Coffee production in Cubulco follows the general process of harvesting, processing, and drying. Ripe coffee cherries are hand-picked and sorted to select the highest-quality beans. Depending on the farm, different processing methods may be employed, including wet or dry processing. Cubulco's coffee production contributes not only to the local economy but also to the preservation of traditional farming practices and the cultural heritage of the indigenous communities in the region.

Country of Origin	Guatemala
Region	Cubulco, Baja Verapaz
Producer Type	Small Holder Farmers
Processing	Washed
Processing Description	Sun-dried on patios
Growing Altitude	1000m - 1800m

Harvest Season	2022/23
Bag Weight	69 KG BAG
Bag Type	Grain Pro / Ecotact
Plant Species	Arabica

History of Coffee in Guatemala

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.

Growing Coffee in Guatemala

Coffee farming practices are similar to other countries in the region, but Guatemala has an abundance of water, volcanic soil, and very distinct micro-climates compared to its neighbors. Although late to coffee, Guatemala recognized and responded to the needs of the emerging specialty coffee sector earlier than most coffee-producing regions. Anacafé, the coffee producers association in Guatemala, identifies seven growing regions: 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.