Introduction to Guatemala Finca El Injerto Estate Guatemala Pour-Over Coffee

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Finca El Injerto: A Legacy of Excellence

Since 1905, Finca El Injerto has been producing exceptional coffee beans in the highlands of Huehuetenango, Guatemala, with a foundation of respect for and protection of the pristine natural environment. The estate is now operated and managed by its owner Arturo Aguirre and his son Arturo Jr. The farm places great emphasis on coffee cultivation and environmental protection, continuously improving the technology and equipment for green bean processing to provide Guatemala's finest specialty coffee beans.

A Rich Heritage

In 1812, the first-generation owner Mr. Jesus Aguirre Panama arrived at this land, initially cultivating corn, cocoa, chili peppers, and sugarcane. Coffee cultivation began in 1900, and the estate was named "El Injerto," meaning "the Grafting" of crops, because they started their agricultural journey here. After three generations of operation and over 100 years of history, Finca El Injerto encompasses 245 hectares of coffee cultivation area, with 70% planted with Bourbon varieties and the remaining 30% with Catuai, Maragogype, and the estate's renowned Pacamara.

Commitment to Sustainability

The Aguirres operate with the goal of sustainable crop production, dedicating themselves to managing the land quality in the region and environmental protection. They use parchment as fuel for machinery, filter wastewater from washed green beans to prevent downstream water pollution, and not only avoid excessive logging of Guatemala's native tree species but also implement reforestation programs. When dealing with pests and diseases, they replace pesticide spraying with excellent cultivation management methods to reduce tree and soil contamination. They also use biological farming techniques, utilizing insects to convert coffee cherry pulp into lombricompost, which is used as fertilizer in nurseries and for fruit trees before harvest. The entire farm plants numerous shade trees, which not only control the amount of sunlight needed by coffee trees but also promote atmospheric circulation and provide excellent fresh air. Due to the Aguirres' various efforts in environmental conservation, Finca El Injerto has successfully obtained Rainforest Alliance certification and has received numerous accolades in the Cup of Excellence (C.O.E) competition since 2002.

The Pacamara Variety

The Pacamara variety originated in El Salvador, created by combining the Maragogype and Pacas varieties. Pacas is part of the Bourbon family, similar to Caturra. The Maragogype, with its majestic coffee trees and cherry fruits the size of walnuts, originated in Brazil and is known as "elephant beans" - the largest bean size among all varieties. The Pacamara variety was one of the coffees that top coffee professionals worldwide were eagerly acquiring a few years ago. When Pacamara was transplanted to Guatemala's coffee paradise, Huehuetenango, it grew even more luxuriantly and developed better. Therefore, for the past four years from 2008-2011, the Pacamara grown by the Aguirre family at Finca El Injerto in the Pandora region consecutively won the C.O.E championship. Undoubtedly, the Aguirre family played a crucial role throughout this process. In addition to the excellent cultivation and varieties mentioned earlier, Arturo Sr. and Arturo Jr. also place great importance on green bean processing. They require manual harvesting of high-quality coffee cherries and removal of foreign materials. They use special spectral instruments to screen defective beans, which undergo two washing processes and two soaking fermentation periods before being sent to sun-drying fields and then low-temperature drying. The exquisite green bean processing is another reason why their beans are superior to others.

Brewing Recommendations

FrontStreet Coffee suggests brewing parameters:

Pour-over: V60 dripper, grind with Fuji R440 at 3.5, water temperature around 90°C

French Press: Recommended grind setting 4, water temperature 90°C

Siphon: Recommended grind setting 4, water temperature 90°C~91°C

AeroPress: Recommended grind setting 3.5, water temperature 90°C

Important Notice :

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FrontStreet Coffee Address: 315,Donghua East Road,GuangZhou

Tel:020 38364473