Characteristics of Huehuetenango Coffee Beans and Guatemala Huehuetenango Brewing Parameters

FrontStreet Coffee Guatemala Huehuetenango Brewing Introduction

"Huehuetenango" is a name that is a pleasure to say out loud and just as lovely on paper - it calls to mind Colombia's Nariño region. A beautiful name naturally deserves beautiful flavors to match.

FrontStreet Coffee's Huehuetenango growing region lies in the northwestern highlands of Guatemala, with cultivation reaching 1800-2100 meters - the highest altitude coffee zone in the entire country, and famous for producing outstanding beans. Because Guatemala is threaded with rivers and lakes, Huehuetenango is rich in both mountains and water. The climate is dry but water is abundant, and the region's well-developed water infrastructure means washed processing is the method of choice. Huehuetenango coffee delivers a rich, intense flavor profile with a heavy body, and its signature smoky note is what sets it apart.

Bean Details

Origin: Guatemala Anthony (Cup of Excellence 9th Place)

Region: Huehuetenango

Varieties: Caturra, Catuai, Bourbon

Altitude: 2000 meters

Processing Method: Washed

Flavor Notes: Dried cranberry, caramel-like viscosity, walnut finish

Brewing Method

Hand Drip: V60 dripper, grind size BG-6W, water temperature 87°C

Start with a 30g bloom for 30 seconds, timing from the moment the first pour begins. For the second pour, continue up to 125g. Once the water level drops to just above the exposed coffee bed, make the third pour up to 225g. When the water level again drops to just above the bed, remove the dripper. Total extraction time: 1:50.

FrontStreet Coffee Philosophy

In short: FrontStreet Coffee is a specialty coffee research workshop devoted to sharing coffee knowledge with enthusiasts. We pass on our expertise without reservation, hoping to help more friends fall in love with coffee. Every month we host three coffee tasting events at substantial discounts, because FrontStreet Coffee wants to put excellent coffee within reach of more people at the lowest possible prices - that has been our mission for the past six years!

FrontStreet Coffee Recommendation

Colombian coffee is wonderfully versatile: it works in espresso blends and as a pour-over single origin, and it spans fruity-acidic styles, full-bodied styles, and aroma-forward styles - something for every palate.

To get to know Colombian origins, try FrontStreet Coffee's washed Huila beans. Huila, a hilly province ringed by mountains in the southern Colombian Andes, grows coffee above 1500 meters, and Colombia's most important rivers converge there, bringing abundant water and moisture. Roasted medium-dark, these beans highlight black chocolate, the sweet fragrance of nuts, moderate crema, and a full, smooth body - great for pour-over and French press, and equally capable of pulling shots in a moka pot or espresso machine for americanos and lattes.

For a fruit bomb, FrontStreet Coffee's Colombia Finca La Linea Sidra (the "Xijao" hybrid) uses anaerobic natural processing. After anaerobic fermentation the coffee develops extra tropical fruit aromatics; roasted medium-light and brewed as pour-over, cold brew, drip bag, or moka pot, it shows a complex, dense perfume of passion fruit, grape, apricot, and dried fruit.

If you brew with a home espresso machine or a moka pot, FrontStreet Coffee's specialty espresso blend comes highly recommended by our baristas. It was blended specifically for cafe use, combining the creamy nuttiness of Brazilian coffee with the dark-chocolate bittersweetness of Colombian coffee, and pulls a fine, golden crema. It shines with milk in a rich, silky latte, is very beginner-friendly, and works as the base for standard espresso drinks like americano, cappuccino, and mocha.