Collection: Guatemala Coffee

Your complete guide to Guatemala coffee

Despite being a small country (totalling just 108,889 km²), Guatemala is the world’s 10th largest coffee producer and is known for creating some of the most loved speciality coffees on the market.

From the rich, chocolatey flavours of Guatemalan beans to the country’s turbulent coffee history, below we take a closer look at this popular Central American coffee.

What is Guatemala coffee?

Guatemalan coffee is produced in Central America, in the country’s eight coffee-growing regions: Antigua, Acatenango Valley, Conbán, Atitlán, Huehuetenango, Fraijanes Plateau, Nueva Oriente and San Marcos.

Due to the diverse terroirs of these mountainous growing regions, Guatemala tasting notes can be incredibly varied. One roast from the region will have a full body, giving you luxuriously rich flavours of chocolate, spice and nuts. Another roast will be much lighter and when brewed, results in a complex, fruity cup.

Guatemala coffee history

Although Guatemala is now highly praised for its delicious coffees, this wasn’t always the case. Coffee was first introduced to the country in the late 1700s by the incoming Jesuit missionaries. However, coffee-growing didn’t really take off until the mid-19th century after textile manufacturing led to a decline in Guatemala’s export of Indigo.

Taking advantage of the country's ideal coffee-growing land, the then dictatorial President Justo Rufio Barrios concentrated on building Guatemala’s coffee export industry. He did this by taking over once communally-owned land, which mainly belonged to the indigenous Mayans, and transforming it into coffee plantations. Barrios’ plan was hugely successful – by 1880, coffee accounted for over 90% of Guatemala’s exports.

The unstable political climate in Central America during the 1950s and 60s impacted the lives of many hundreds of thousands of Guatemalans, resulting in a civil war that didn’t end until 1996. In Guatemala, coffee production and the coffee industry were not spared from the impacts of war. Many farms struggled to have enough workers to tend to their plants and harvest coffee beans. The effects of the war have been long-lasting, and it’s not unusual to find a Guatemalan coffee plantation still facing these problems today.

Difficulties from long-term instability have created a coffee industry that relies on producing some of the world’s best speciality coffee beans so that farmers can maximise their profits. In fact, Guatemala is second only to Colombia in production of speciality-grade beans. Our Dark Maragogype coffee is made from one of these speciality beans – the Elephant coffee bean.

In more recent times, Guatemala has become a great option for sustainable coffee lovers due to an influx of Rainforest Alliance certified growers. The Rainforest Alliance ensures that all beans come from eco-friendly coffee plantations and conservation areas.

Where is coffee grown in Guatemala?

It’s almost as if the land in Guatemala was designed to grow the perfect coffee cherries. Coffee plantations benefit from a range of microclimates found in its eight coffee regions.

Antigua: Surrounded by three enormous volcanoes, Antigua produces the most popular and expensive coffee in the country.

Acatenango Valley: Located in the west, the valley produces world-renowned Bourbon, Caturra and Catuaí coffee beans up to 2000m above sea level.

Conbán: Heavy rainfall for most of the year leads to a slower flowering process, producing unique and complex flavours.

Atitlán: Grown on the slopes surrounding Lake Atitlán, the coffee here benefits from nutrient-rich volcanic soil.

Huehuetenango: The highest and driest region in Guatemala, producing complex, bright coffees up to 6500m in altitude.

Fraijanes Plateau: Located on the active Pacaya volcano, featuring natural pumice soil and frequent mineral-rich ash deposits.

Nueva Oriente: A newer region that has transformed from one of the poorest areas into a thriving coffee-producing community.

Volcan San Marcos: The warmest and wettest region, producing early-flowering coffee plants processed on-site for quality control.

Guatemala's best coffees

We’ve sourced two of the very best Guatemalan coffee beans, offering coffee lovers dark and medium roast varieties. Like all our coffees, our Guatemalan beans are roasted in small batches and roasted to order, guaranteeing optimum freshness.

You can also choose from whole beans or a range of pre-ground coffees, expertly ground for your brewing methods of choice. Delivery of all our products to UK addresses is also free of charge.

Dark Maragogype: This rich and rounded coffee has full body and hints of chocolate. Whilst being a more robust coffee, it’s low in acidity, creating impeccably smooth and mellow flavour notes. The large Elephant Beans create a smoother and richer coffee than your average Arabica bean.

Guatemala Coffee: This single-origin, medium roast is the ideal all-rounder and is packed full of flavour. We recommend brewing this quality coffee with a cafetiere or by filter to really bring out the flavours.

Guatemala Swiss Water Decaffeinated: This roast offers all the outstanding tasting notes of caramel and citrus without the caffeine kick, perfect for any time of day.

FAQs

Is Guatemala coffee good? Yes. Many people argue that when it comes to coffee, Guatemala produces the best roasts. From bean-to-cup to filter drinkers, Guatemalan coffee suits all brewing methods and taste buds. One Guatemalan coffee will give you a light, fruity, complex brew, whereas another roast will be more robust and have hints of chocolate and toffee.

Is Guatemala known for coffee? Yes. Guatemala is a famous and popular coffee-growing region, renowned for its Antigua coffee and Elephant Bean varieties.

Is Guatemala good for growing coffee? Yes. Guatemala is one of those countries made for coffee growing. Single-origin coffees are produced in eight main coffee-growing regions, benefiting from volcanic soil and varied microclimates that produce a wide variety of flavours.

Where can I buy the best Guatemala coffee? You can find premium Guatemalan coffee beans from certified sustainable producers, ensuring high quality and eco-friendly cultivation methods. Green, unroasted beans are also available for home roasting enthusiasts.