The Story of Guatemala Coffee Beans The Disappeared Maya Civilization in Guatemala Coffee History

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FrontStreet Coffee - Guatemala Coffee History

Guatemala Coffee History

A cup of Guatemalan Antigua coffee seems to let us see the mysterious Maya people who suddenly disappeared thriving on ancient lands. History has erased their existence, yet history has also made them eternal.

If a person's wrinkles record the path they have walked, then the aroma of coffee remembers the life story of a cup of coffee: about its native terroir, harvest year, roasting and grinding methods—that is, coffee's lifelong journey. Guatemala's fertile volcanic soil nurtures specialty coffee beans with unique flavors: Antigua coffee. The charm of Antigua lies in its balanced, refreshing fruit acidity, rich spice flavors, and distinctive smoky taste, as if to tell us about the desolate history of Guatemala's Antigua.

The aroma of coffee liberates all barriers of form, spirit, and national boundaries. Through coffee, our mood can take flight at any moment, landing in a foreign country half a world away. Even separated by vast distances, we can share the same feelings. The city of Antigua was the capital during the Spanish colonial period in 1543. Although this emerald-like valley has been surrounded by active volcanoes from all directions—layered, ready to erupt, and full of danger—its vastness, breadth, and fertility still tempted the Spanish of that time to build their capital in this precarious cliff valley where existence could not be guaranteed from one day to the next.

Volcanoes once destroyed this once-prosperous capital city in an instant, taking away all its splendor and beauty overnight. After this turmoil, the mountain city lost 200 years of brilliance, and Antigua never again strode forward proudly. After returning to simplicity, Antigua is now diligently operated by the remaining indigenous people. These hardworking and resilient indigenous people became the later coffee producers. They not only discovered the rich and enticing unique aroma of Antigua coffee but also brought it to people around the world. Today, Antigua coffee enjoys the reputation of being one of the world's highest-quality coffees and is praised by coffee connoisseurs as the world's most excellent and distinctive coffee.

Most Guatemalan coffee beans are cultivated in high-altitude volcanic areas and belong to the highest-grade Arabica variety. Due to the longer maturation period, the beans are medium-sized and dense (Guatemalan coffee bean grading is not based on size but on the number of defects). The beans have a dark green-blue color. Its characteristics are fragrance, mellowness, sweetness, and a unique, refreshing acidity—this is because the aroma and taste of coffee beans are hidden within their acidity. Therefore, only coffee beans with these characteristics can be called premium coffee beans. Product names are suitable for roasting degrees and taste characteristics.

Guatemala has a high average altitude, with coffee growing regions distributed above 1,500 meters, between 14 and 16 degrees north latitude. This makes it easiest to grow extremely hard beans. All are wet-processed, with 45% belonging to the specialty grade—a quite high proportion. There is also a small amount of Robusta.

Guatemala's coffee varieties are mainly Bourbon, Typica, Catuai, and Caturra, with small amounts of Yellow Bourbon, Geisha, and Pacamara. The varieties are quite diverse, but being able to preserve the ancient Typica and Bourbon is truly precious.

Knowledge point: Guatemala has more than 300 microclimates throughout its territory,堪称 the world's highest.

In Brief

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