Guatemala Huehuetenango | La Libertad Cooperative SHB Caturra & Catuai

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Guatemala Huehuetenango | La Libertad Cooperative SHB Caturra, Catuai Flavor Profile

Over the past century, coffee has saved Guatemala's economy. It's estimated that there are currently about 125,000 producers locally, making it the main export item, accounting for 40% of exported agricultural products. As many as 20 out of 22 provinces are engaged in coffee cultivation, with coffee beans grown in almost all regions. 98% of the coffee is shade-grown, dominated almost exclusively by Arabica beans. The main sub-varieties include Bourbon, Tipica, Caturra, Catuaí, Pache, and Pacamara.

Let's get to know Guatemala better. With high altitudes and 300 different microclimates, combined with stable rainfall and fertile soil rich in minerals, it's the most ideal for coffee cultivation among Central American countries. Since the early 1990s, Anacafé pioneered the division into 8 different producing regions for high-grown hard beans (S.H.B) based on coffee characteristics, growing climate, soil quality, and altitude: the Acatenango valley, Antigua, Atitlán, Cobán, the Fraijanes plateau, Huehuetenango, Nuevo Oriente, and San Marcos volcanic region. The main harvest season runs from December to March of the following year. Higher altitude regions like Huehuetenango can extend to April. Once harvesting is complete and processing is done, shipping typically occurs during the April to July period.

Huehuetenango is a major coffee town in the northwest. Since ancient times, it and Antigua have been two important producing regions in Guatemala. It's world-renowned for its delicate citrus acidity and special chrysanthemum tea flavor. Huehuetenango has rich topography including mountains, hills, and volcanic slopes. Coffee grows on volcanic slopes above 1,900 meters altitude, with annual rainfall of about 4,000 millimeters and an average temperature of 25 degrees.

Guatemala's Slow Food movement aims to support small-scale producers in preserving traditional crop varieties. Farms under this protection movement must be small-scale producers and must be located above 1,500 meters altitude. Currently, there are 4 core cooperatives, including La Libertad and Todos Santos, two different communities with about 150 small growers.

The Slow Food movement, as the name suggests, hopes for coffee to grow slowly and fully absorb various nutrients, thereby achieving improved quality and traceability. Similar to Taiwan's agricultural product production history, it's a small farmer plan where farmers make self-commitments and take responsibility.

Property Characteristics

Farm Name: La Libertad Cooperative
Region: Huehuetenango
Country: Guatemala
Altitude: 1,900 meters

Coffee Characteristics

Variety: Caturra, Catuai
Processing System: Fully washed and dried on patio
Grade: SHB
Total Pounds: 2,250 pounds
Screen Size: 17-18 screen
Cupping Roast Level: 60 seconds after first crack (Cinnamon roast)

Aroma/Flavor: Hazelnut, caramel, cinnamon, milk chocolate, raisin, honey

Acidity: Lemon, lime, with coarse rather than delicate acidity

Complexity & Other Characteristics: Lemon black tea aroma, presentation of various fruit sweetness including cherry, apple, peach, smooth mouthfeel, and a nectar-like aftertaste that we all love

Overall Style Attributes: Belongs to fruit-forward sweetness, with smooth mouthfeel and alternating sweet and sour notes

FrontStreet Coffee Recommended Brewing:

Dripper: Hario V60
Water Temperature: 90°C
Grind Size: Fuji Royal grinder setting 3.5

Brewing Method: Coffee-to-water ratio 1:15, 15g coffee grounds. First pour 25g water for 25s bloom. Second pour to 120g, then pause. Wait until the water level drops to half, then continue pouring slowly to 225g total. Extraction time around 2:00.

Analysis: Using a three-stage brewing method to clearly distinguish the front, middle, and back-end flavors of the coffee. Because the V60 has many ribs and drains quickly, pausing during pouring helps extend the extraction time.

Important Notice :

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FrontStreet Coffee Address: 315,Donghua East Road,GuangZhou

Tel:020 38364473