【Antigua Coffee Region】What are the flavors of the selected batch Margaret coffee beans? Antigua coffee varieties

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Flavor Profile of Selected Batch Margaret Coffee Beans from Antigua Coffee Region | Advantages of Antigua Coffee Growing Environment?

Antigua, a first-class growing region, features volcanic soil similar to the Tarrazu region of Costa Rica. Antigua coffee is grown on the volcanic slopes about an hour's drive from Guatemala City. Compared to Costa Rica, it better preserves its distinct characteristics, mainly because it has more microclimates than Costa Rica, and climate strongly influences bean characteristics.

Guatemala Antigua Valley: Premier Coffee Growing Region

Guatemala's Antigua Valley has always been the country's most famous coffee growing region. The microclimate of the Antigua Valley provides excellent conditions for coffee cultivation, a uniqueness known worldwide. This region's path to fame began decades ago when certain Japanese coffee traders discovered the exceptional coffee here. The combination of rich volcanic soil, low humidity, abundant sunshine, and strong day-night temperature contrasts creates the distinctive personality of Antigua region coffee. This valley is formed by three volcanoes: Agua, Acatenango, and Fuego. Periodically, Fuego volcano adds fresh, rich volcanic ash to the environment. This volcanic ash contains abundant minerals and also provides soil growth conditions that help retain moisture to resist Antigua's dry climate. Like all coffee grown in Guatemala, Antigua coffee also grows under shade. These shade trees not only protect the coffee from the cold nights between December and January but also create an ecological corridor for wildlife in this subtropical region.

Guatemala's Antigua Valley has always been the country's most famous coffee growing region. The valley's microclimate provides excellent conditions for coffee cultivation, a uniqueness known worldwide. Due to its extensive mountain ranges and significant regional climate variations, Guatemala has developed eight major coffee growing regions, all located in highland terrain under subtropical climates with abundant and stable rainfall, and fertile volcanic ash soil. The coffee beans produced here are all Arabica varieties, each with different flavors and characteristics—superior acidity and fruity aromas, smooth and mellow, belonging to the world's top-tier coffees, suitable for single-origin consumption.

Climate Conditions

Climate: The region's climate is temperate with an average annual temperature of 22°C. The Antigua Valley is surrounded and protected by mountains and volcanoes that shield it from northern winds.

Altitude: Situated at 1,500 meters above sea level, producing Strictly Hard Bean (SHB) quality coffee.

Weather: The rainy season lasts six months from May to October, while the dry season runs from November to April. During the dry season, temperatures are cool from November to January at around 14°C, while February to April brings warm average temperatures of 24°C. This unique climate creates a special coffee growing region. The average annual rainfall is approximately 1,200-1,500 millimeters.

Soil: Volcanic soil mixed with fresh volcanic ash contains very rich minerals and nutrients, ideal elements for coffee growth. This area and valley were once a lake, so the remaining sediments make the land fertile with strong characteristics that influence the coffee's unique quality. Within Antigua are three major volcanoes: Acatenango (now independently established as Guatemala's 8th coffee region), Fuego and Agua Volcanoes. Among them, Fuego is an active volcano whose activity continuously provides fertile volcanic soil to the Antigua coffee region, as well as unique volcanic pumice. This is cooled material after volcanic lava eruption, with porous and insulating properties, excellent for moisture retention in soil. Since Antigua is the region with the least rainfall among the 7 major regions and coffee growth requires sufficient moisture, the moisture retention capability of volcanic pumice here恰好 compensates for insufficient rainfall, while the growing coffee beans develop more unique regional flavor characteristics.

Cultivation: Most coffee is Arabica Bourbon variety, all grown under the shade of Gravilea trees. Coffee is carefully hand-picked and selected when ripe, then transported to the La Esperanza wet processing facility on the outskirts of Antigua city.

Coffee Processing: Coffee is carefully processed at the wet processing facility, with beans separated using a pulping machine. This is followed by a fermentation process to remove the remaining pulp, then washed with clean water. Coffee is 75% sun-dried. Drying is carefully done according to customer requirements, ensuring consistent quality in every bag, and this applies to every harvest.

Harvest Season: Flowering begins in late April or early May, with harvest season from December to March. Such high-quality green coffee beans typically become available for use starting mid-January.

Regional Characteristics

Region: Antigua Volcanic Region, versatile volcanic fertile soil: Within Antigua are three major volcanoes: Acatenango (now independently established as Guatemala's 8th coffee region), Fuego and Agua Volcanoes. Among them, Fuego is an active volcano whose activity continuously provides fertile volcanic soil to the Antigua coffee region, as well as unique volcanic pumice. This is cooled material after volcanic lava eruption, with porous and insulating properties, excellent for moisture retention in soil. Since Antigua is the region with the least rainfall among the 7 major regions and coffee growth requires sufficient moisture, the moisture retention capability of volcanic pumice here恰好 compensates for insufficient rainfall, while the growing coffee beans develop more unique regional flavor characteristics.

Growing Altitude: 1,500-1,700m, with drastic day-night temperature differences: greatly helpful for the formation of sweetness and unique flavors in coffee berries.

Estate: Margaret Coffee

Processing Method: Washed processing method

Varieties: Bourbon, Caturra, Catuai

Annual Rainfall: 800-1,200mm

Soil: Volcanic soil

Shade Trees: Gravilea, high-density shade trees: besides providing shade, they also prevent frost damage and create unique microclimates. Due to cold nights in the Antigua region between December and February, occasional frost damage occurs, at which time these high-density shade trees play their role, preventing coffee trees from frosting. Meanwhile, the groundwater level in the Antigua region is not deep, and these shade trees easily absorb moisture, forming a microclimate suitable for plant growth with surrounding coffee trees.

Flavor: A refreshing sensation of citrus lemon tea, floral notes, orange, mixed berries, and walnut, caramel sweetness, with Jin Xuan tea and milk chocolate aftertaste. Its acidity, sweetness, and texture are perfectly coordinated, with perfectly rounded flavors, plus a hint of smoky aroma that further emphasizes its depth and mystery. In summary, some people are willing to drink only Guatemala coffee for their entire lives.

FrontStreet Coffee Recommended Brewing:

Dripper: Hario V60

Water Temperature: 90 degrees

Grind Size: Fuji Royal grinder setting 3.5

Brewing Method: Water-to-coffee ratio 1:15, 15g coffee grounds. First pour 25g water for 25s bloom. Second pour to 120g water, then pause. Wait until the water level in the coffee bed drops to halfway, then continue pouring. Slowly pour water until reaching 225g total, with extraction time around 2:00.

Analysis: Using three-stage brewing to clearly define the front, middle, and back-end flavors of the coffee. Because V60 has many ribs and faster drainage speed, pausing during pouring can help extend extraction time.

Important Notice :

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