Guatemala Coffee | San Marco Region | Platanillo Estate | Maragogipe (Elephant Bean)

Guatemala Coffee Overview

For the past century, coffee has powered Guatemala's economy. An estimated 125,000 coffee producers work in the country today. Coffee is Guatemala's chief export, accounting for 40% of agricultural export income. Cultivation is widespread: beans are grown in almost every part of the country, and of the 22 provinces, as many as 20 grow coffee - with 98% raised under tree shade. These are almost exclusively Arabica beans, mostly washed-processed, spanning varieties such as Bourbon, Maragogype, Typica, Caturra, Catuaí, Pache, and Pacamara. Guatemala's high altitude, 300 distinct microclimates, stable rainfall, and mineral-rich fertile soil make its growing conditions arguably the finest among Central American countries.

Since the early 1990s, Anacafé has divided Guatemala's producing regions by flavor character, climate, soil, and altitude, identifying 8 regions that produce Strictly Hard Bean (SHB) coffee: the Acatenango valley, Antigua, Atitlán, Cobán, the Fraijanes plateau, Huehuetenango, Nuevo Oriente, and the San Marcos volcanic region. The main harvest runs from December through March of the following year; higher-altitude areas like Huehuetenango may stretch into April. Once the early harvest is picked and processed, coffee typically ships between April and July.

El Platanillo Estate

El Platanillo Estate sits on the slopes of the Tacana and Tajumulco volcanoes, at altitudes of 1,060 to 1,460 meters. Samuel Coto Escobar purchased the farm in 1976, and it is now operated by his children. El Platanillo specializes exclusively in Maragogype, the variety commonly known as "Elephant Beans." Maragogype is one of the old heirloom varieties - an older tree type cultivated for its distinctive flavor. A single Maragogype tree may yield less than one kilogram of green beans a year, while newer high-yield hybrids can easily produce three times as much. The Maragogype from El Platanillo maintains excellent, consistent quality season after season, giving enthusiasts a chance to discover a genuinely distinctive cup.

Property Characteristics

Farm Name: Finca El Platanillo

Farmer: Stuardo Coto Markus

City: San Rafaël Pié de la Cuesta

Region: San Marcos

Country: Guatemala

Farm Size: 368 Hectares

Coffee Growing Area: 321 Hectares

Altitude: 1,060 - 1,460 meters

Coffee Characteristics

Variety: Maragogype (Elephant Beans)

A mutation of Typica discovered in Maragogype, Brazil, and named in its honor. The beans are extremely large - above screen size 19 - hence the nickname "Elephant Beans." The cup is mild with light acidity and sweetness; the variety is difficult to cultivate and low-yielding.

Processing System: Fully Washed

Appearance: Above screen size 20

Top Jury Descriptions

Cupping roast level: 60 seconds after first crack begins (Cinnamon roast)

Aroma/Flavor: Almond, peanut, nuts, cocoa, raspberry, blackcurrant, oolong tea, lychee, floral perfume fragrance

Acidity: Unique, fresh, subtle, clean; mint, orange, red grape, and apple acidity

Complexity and Other: Full mouth aroma, soft mouthfeel, an aftertaste with a strong oolong tea impression that turns delicate at the end, with notes of red grape fermented wine

Dry Aroma: 9

Wet Aroma: 10

Clean: 7

Brightness: 8

Mouthfeel: 9

Balance: 8

Complexity: 9

Sweetness: 9

Acidity: 8

Aftertaste: 10

Cupping Score: 87

Overall Evaluation

Finca El Platanillo's single-variety Maragogype is a fascinating bean: complete and large in appearance, yet delicate and clean in flavor - the opposite of its size. I especially enjoy the oolong tea fragrance and fine fruit acidity it releases when lightly roasted and brewed. After entering second crack (Full City), most of the tea character and fruit acidity fade, giving way to nutty, almond, and chocolate aromas.

FrontStreet Coffee Recommendation

If fully washed, flavor-forward beans are your preference, FrontStreet Coffee's washed specialty shelf delivers at every level. The FrontStreet Worka (Guodingding) Cooperative Yirgacheffe shows jasmine florals, bright citrus acidity, and green tea and honey tones at a medium-light roast. The FrontStreet Kenya Cherry Tomato - double-washed SL28 and SL34 from Thika at 1550-1750 meters - pours sweet and juicy with cherry tomato, dried plum, snow pear, and black plum over yellow sugar. And the FrontStreet Jamaica Blue Mountain No.1 remains the balanced benchmark: hazelnut, cream, chocolate, and caramel in a clean, full-bodied cup where no single note dominates.