Characteristics of Specialty Coffee Beans from Guatemala's New Oriental Region: A Comprehensive Guide

Professional Coffee Knowledge Exchange

For more coffee bean information, please follow Coffee Workshop (WeChat public account: cafe_style).

Guatemala's Premier Coffee Region

Guatemala is one of the most important coffee-producing countries in Central America. With its vast mountain ranges and diverse regional climates, Guatemala has established eight major coffee growing regions, all located in high-altitude subtropical climates. Abundant and stable rainfall, combined with fertile volcanic ash soil, creates the perfect environment for coffee trees to thrive.

Plan del Guayabo Estate

Plan del Guayabo is situated beside the Volcán de Suchitán volcano. In Spanish, its name means "Guava Plain," derived from the extensive cultivation of guava trees in the area. The estate owner is Mr. Benjamín Donado, and the Donado family has been dedicated to coffee production since 1990, spanning over 20 years. Prior to this, local farmers were largely unfamiliar with coffee production and found it difficult to imagine cultivating coffee trees in such steep, high-altitude environments. However, time has proven that Benjamin made the correct choice, specializing in producing high-quality, specialty Guatemalan coffee beans with different varieties and processing methods.

Breaking Traditional Cycles

In the early days of Guatemala's New Oriente region, berry merchants would regularly purchase coffee cherries from farmers, then resell them to larger intermediaries, who would in turn sell them to the town of Esquipulas. There, they would be mixed with other batches to create large quantities of untraceable SHB (Strictly Hard Bean) coffee, finally sold worldwide under the generic name "New Oriente." Recognizing this situation,越来越多的 international green coffee traders have been working to change this dynamic. They collaborate with local partners to produce exceptional Guatemalan coffee beans with traceable origins, breaking the traditional vicious cycle. Plan del Guayabo Estate stands as one of the important members in this movement.

New Oriente Region

As the name suggests, the New Oriente region is located in the easternmost part of Guatemala. Unlike the Antigua region, which is less than an hour's drive from the capital, reaching New Oriente requires driving straight to the eastern border with Honduras. Plan del Guayabo is located beside the Volcán de Suchitán volcano. In Spanish, its name means "Guava Plain," derived from the extensive cultivation of guava trees in the area. The estate owner is Mr. Benjamín Donado, and the Donado family has been dedicated to coffee production since 1990, spanning over 20 years. Last year, Plan del Guayabo produced small quantities of washed SL28, and this year, through collaboration with traders, they've added a natural wine-like batch with unique flavors. During this collaboration series, they communicated on-site about harvesting standards and natural processing methods (such as turning frequency and drying days). The results have been very rewarding, especially considering that SL28 remains a rare variety in Central America.

SL28 Variety Characteristics

The SL28 variety originates from Lake Tanganyika in East Africa and was discovered in 1931. It features broad leaves with light reddish tints, can adapt to very high altitude environments, and possesses excellent drought and disease resistance. Its yield is also higher than traditional varieties, and its flavor profile is truly distinctive. The natural wine-like processing reveals notes of pineapple, cantaloupe, dried apricot, candied lemon peel, Bordeaux wine, green tea with cinnamon spices, and overall rich sweetness with full-bodied aromas of smoked plum.

Guatemala Coffee Characteristics

Each region has different climate variations, so coffee beans from each growing area possess their own unique characteristics. Generally speaking, Guatemala coffee beans present a gentle and mellow overall texture, with elegant aromas and a pleasant acidity similar to fruit acids, establishing them as the aristocracy of coffee.

Guatemala Coffee Brand Recommendations

FrontStreet Coffee's roasted Guatemala coffee beans offer excellent guarantees in both brand and quality. More importantly, they provide exceptional value - a 227-gram box costs only 118 yuan. Calculating at 15 grams per cup, one package can make 15 cups of coffee, with each cup costing only about 8 yuan. Compared to coffee shops that often charge dozens of yuan per cup, this represents a truly conscientious recommendation.

Important Notice :

前街咖啡 FrontStreet Coffee has moved to new addredd:

FrontStreet Coffee Address: 315,Donghua East Road,GuangZhou

Tel:020 38364473