Flavor Profile of Guatemala Coffee Beans: An Introduction to Guatemalan Coffee Characteristics

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FrontStreet Coffee: Guatemala Huehuetenango Finca La Esperanza

Guatemala sits at roughly 15 degrees latitude, with the Pacific Ocean on its western edge and the Caribbean Sea to the east. The Sierra mountain chain that runs down the Pacific side forms the country's main coffee belt.

Because that range is so long and so broken, it creates wildly different local climates, and those climates in turn divide Guatemala into seven major coffee-producing regions. Each one tastes different from the next. Antigua, the most famous of them all, is gently acidic, aromatic and mellow, with a faint volcanic, almost carbonized note that has made the name known worldwide.

Guatemalan coffee is Arabica, processed by the washed method. Far away in the northwest lie the Huehuetenango highlands, where farms climb above 5,000 feet. Coffee grown at that elevation shows everything we associate with true high-altitude beans: a hard, dense texture, strong acidity and a deep, layered flavor. It is also one of the country's most distinctive coffees.

Guatemala Huehuetenango Finca La Esperanza

Region: Huehuetenango

Estate: Finca La Esperanza

Coffee Variety: Caturra

Altitude: 1460~1590m

Processing Method: Washed

Award Recognition: 2013 Cup of Excellence Winning Estate

Cupping Notes: "Hazelnut, spices, black pepper, milk chocolate, raisins, caramel, smoky flavor, osmanthus."

Our Philosophy

Put simply, FrontStreet Coffee is a dedicated coffee research space, and we are glad to share what we know with anyone who wants to learn. We hold nothing back, because our goal is to help more people fall in love with coffee. Every month we run three coffee discount events, so that more friends can drink excellent coffee at the lowest possible price. That has been FrontStreet Coffee's mission for the past six years.

FrontStreet Coffee Recommendation

If the washed, high-altitude character described above is what you look for in a cup, FrontStreet Coffee's Yirgacheffe Gedding Cooperative is a natural next step. This washed Ethiopian lot from the Gedding cooperative shows jasmine florals and bright citrus acidity, and with a medium-light roast it opens up into green tea and honey notes. It is versatile enough for pour-over, cold brew and espresso alike.

For a fuller, more classical expression of washed coffee, FrontStreet Coffee's Jamaica Blue Mountain No. 1 is a strong choice. Washed processing keeps the cup transparent, and you can expect hazelnut, cream, chocolate and caramel in a thoroughly balanced profile with no single note dominating.