Guatemala Antigua Coffee Estates_The Story of Guatemala Antigua_Antigua Coffee Bean Prices

Professional coffee knowledge exchange and more coffee bean information, please follow Coffee Workshop (WeChat public account: cafe_style)

Today, I'd like to introduce the characteristics of Guatemalan coffee origins. Because there are too many varieties to introduce one by one, I'll focus on the relatively famous Antigua coffee beans. In reality, it's not practical to understand all types of coffee in the world. It's better to develop an overall understanding by considering factors such as various growing regions, bean varieties (Typica, Bourbon, etc.), and processing methods (washed, natural, etc.), then distinguish between different coffees. Generally, professional coffee roasteries will describe which estate the coffee comes from, the processing method, grade, roast level, and flavor profile in their descriptions. Even if not written, you can ask the shop owner.

Why Choose Estate Coffee?

To truly understand the flavor variations and product differences of coffee beans is to understand the growing regions and growers. Different estates produce different flavors, or even different slopes of the same estate produce different flavors. Every story behind each coffee bean is what coffee enthusiasts want to discover... Being able to trace which specific plot of an estate, cooperative, or farmer the beans come from, chasing that sense of place. Only by traveling to coffee origins and stepping into coffee estates can one possibly understand how that subtle coffee essence, charming flavor, and changing aroma truly come to be...

Antigua Coffee Bean Flavor Characteristics

Rich volcanic soil, low humidity, abundant sunshine, and cool nights are the characteristics of this growing region. This valley is surrounded by three volcanoes: Agua, Fuego, and Acatenango. Volcanic ash from eruptions enriches the soil in the Antigua region with minerals. Volcanic pumice helps retain moisture, overcoming the drawback of low rainfall in the Antigua region; dense shade provides protection against occasional frost damage.

Characteristics

Rich wet aroma, good balance, high sweetness, elegant and clean mouthfeel.

La Minita Estate

Coffee Region: Antigua

Coffee Estate: La Minita Estate

Coffee Varieties: Caturra, Caturra red, Caturra yellow, and Bourbon

Coffee Grade: SHB

Processing Method: Grown in volcanic ash soil, washed processing

Roast Level: Medium-dark roast (Full City)

La Minita is the name of an estate. Their company's bean named "Flor Goddess" is very famous and is their company's star product. La Minita Estate has excellent growing conditions and subsequent processing procedures. This bean is also entrusted to the very famous local processing mill in Guatemala, Pastores Mill, for washed processing.

La Minita's Coffee Tree Varieties and Cultivation

In approximately 680 acres of planting area, La Minita Estate grows four varieties of coffee trees: Caturra, Caturra red, Caturra yellow, and Bourbon. After years of experimental statistical analysis and cupping quality tests, La Minita Estate decided to primarily adopt the Caturra variety while continuously retaining a small amount of the old Hibrido variety. Although La Minita plants about 2,500 coffee trees per acre, they still determine planting quantities based on geographical regional characteristics and coffee tree species. La Minita Estate currently has a total of about 1.7 million trees. La Minita uses a 5-year rotation system - every 5 years, the original producing coffee trees are cut to about 50 centimeters in height, leaving lower branches. This practice stimulates the tree's regeneration. One year after cutting, two main young branches are selected for production over the next four years. All these processes are performed manually, with about 350,000 trees pruned annually. After three rounds of pruning (15 years), the coffee tree resources are nearly exhausted, and La Minita will replace them with new trees from their own coffee nursery. The nursery is located in a well-protected area within the estate. New trees planted in the nursery grow there for one year before being transplanted to the production farms. Under normal circumstances, La Minita transplants about 150,000 coffee trees annually. Additionally, La Minita uses fast-growing, broad-leaved "Porro" trees as coffee shade trees. These trees are planted at different densities based on the production area's sunlight needs and temperature control requirements, and are adjusted according to demand.

All soil within the estate is tested twice a year, and based on these test results, decisions are made on how to fertilize the soil. La Minita Estate is very cautious when using products that can increase yield, fertilizing about 3 times a year. This is done for economic and environmental considerations. Additionally, spraying trace elements such as zinc, boron, and copper on the back of leaves can provide more nutrients to the coffee trees and prevent diseases.

Antigua Coffee Bean Brand Recommendations

Guatemalan Antigua coffee beans - Flor Goddess, roasted by FrontStreet Coffee, offer full guarantees in both brand and quality. More importantly, they provide extremely high value-for-money. A half-pound (227 grams) package costs only about 85 RMB. Calculating at 15 grams per single-origin coffee cup, one package can make 15 cups of coffee, with each cup costing only 5-6 RMB. Compared to café prices that often reach tens of yuan per cup, this represents excellent value.

FrontStreet Coffee: A roastery in Guangzhou with a small shop but diverse bean varieties, where you can find both famous and lesser-known beans. They also provide online shop services. https://shop104210103.taobao.com

Important Notice :

前街咖啡 FrontStreet Coffee has moved to new addredd:

FrontStreet Coffee Address: 315,Donghua East Road,GuangZhou

Tel:020 38364473