Starbucks Casi Cielo Coffee Beans: The Story of Guatemala Casi Cielo

FrontStreet Coffee — Guatemala Casi Cielo Introduction

The Antigua Valley of Guatemala lies in the lush highlands of Central America — a place that volcanoes have both destroyed and made famous. This is where Starbucks' Guatemala Casi Cielo coffee beans are grown.

The charm of Casi Cielo lies in how professional roasting draws out the coffee's floral aroma, lively acidity, and smooth cocoa finish. In Spanish, "Casi Cielo" means "almost heaven."

Guatemala is one of the ancient heartlands of Mayan civilization. In the Mayan-Toltec language, "Guatemala" means "land of dense forests." Two-thirds of the country is plateau, and its high altitude, mild climate, abundant sunshine, cool nights, and regular rainy seasons give coffee cultivation superb natural conditions. Add in Guatemala's many active volcanoes and their exceptionally fertile soils, and you have a region capable of producing world-class coffee.

In 1523, the Spanish arrived in Guatemala. They destroyed the local Mayan culture and began colonial rule; destructive policies during this period wiped out most Mayan books, only a small portion of which survived. By 1524, Guatemala had fallen completely under Spanish control.

Antigua City became the colonial capital in 1543. Though set in a valley ringed by active volcanoes, the mysterious, vast, and extraordinarily fertile land tempted the Spanish to establish their capital in this fault valley. Later, the city was devastated by a volcanic eruption, after which the area passed into the hands of the indigenous people. Resilient and hardworking, they went on to grow coffee here that would become world-renowned.

Guatemala Casi Cielo

Processing Method: Washed

Region: Latin America

Flavor: Cocoa, caramel

In Brief

FrontStreet Coffee is a coffee research house dedicated to sharing coffee knowledge with everyone. Our unconditional sharing exists only to help more friends fall in love with coffee. Every month we hold three discounted coffee events, because FrontStreet Coffee wants more friends to enjoy the best coffee at the lowest prices. This has been FrontStreet Coffee's mission for six years!

FrontStreet Coffee Recommendation

If Casi Cielo's cocoa-and-caramel profile suits your palate, FrontStreet Coffee's medium-roast selections hit the same balanced, sweet spot. The Brazil Queen Estate — a Yellow Bourbon from the world's largest coffee-producing country — offers creamed peanut, chocolate, toast, and sugarcane sweetness with low acidity, and works as pour-over, moka pot, or espresso. For classic balance taken to its peak, FrontStreet's Jamaica Blue Mountain No. 1, medium-dark roasted, unfolds chocolate, roasted nuts, cream, and caramel in a cup where acidity, bitterness, sweetness, and aroma blend seamlessly.

For brewing Blue Mountain, FrontStreet suggests a Kono dripper to boost body: 15g of coffee rested 4-7 days post-roast, ground to a white-sugar texture, 87-88°C water, and a 1:15 ratio in three pours — 30g bloom for 30 seconds, then to 120g, then to 225g.