GUATEMALA CAFE Sampler

Cupping Notes

When I first cupped this coffee, I loved the aroma. It smelled like homemade bread coming straight out of my mother’s oven. The flavor was sweet, woody and balanced with a clean aftertaste. Acidity is always important in a brewed cup of coffee as it gives a brightness to the cup. When tasting this Guatemalan coffee it had the perfect balance of tangy and vibrant in the acidity category. Finally, the mouthfeel is what really takes a coffee to the next level. I gave this coffee a cupping score of “10” because the body and mouthfeel was rich, buttery, smooth, creamy and velvety. It’s the perfect cup of coffee and I love drinking it everyday and sharing it with family and friends.

About the Farmers

Grown by women farmers in the Baja Verapaz region, this Guatemalan coffee brings all the best flavors straight from the farm to your coffee cup. These beans have a balanced and well-structured flavor profile that works exceptionally well for pour overs, brew and espresso.

The women producers in Baja Verapaz are members of the La Morena program which was started by green coffee seller Genuine Origin. The La Morena program promotes women farmers in Guatemala, giving them a voice in the coffee trade and highlighting traceable, women-produced coffees.

In Guatemala, gender equality remains a challenge, and coffee has long been a male-dominated industry. Between 20 to 30% of all coffee farms are female-operated, and up to 70% of all labour in coffee production is provided by women. However, women have systematically experienced lower access to resources, such as land, credit and education than men. This often results in a measurable gender gap in economic outcomes, including yields, productivity and farm income. These factors have made it incredibly difficult for women to compete and thrive in the coffee world.

Velvet Ditch Coffee Roasters is thrilled to offer this La Morena coffee, grown by women farmers in Cubulco which is in the Baja Verapaz region. This delicious coffee showcases the very heart of the women who produced the beans. Their focus is on best practices and attention to details, resulting in higher quality beans.

Guatemala owes its distinctive, mountainous topography, lush rain forests, biodiversity and its coffee to massive volcanic activity. Volcanic peaks and mountains roll across the country and carve out Guatemala’s unique coffee growing regions. The mountain ranges help to create the country’s unique micro-climates. Together with the rich soil left behind in the wake of immense volcanic activity, Guatemala has the ideal conditions for coffee production.