Guatemala
Coffee was brought to Guatemala in the mid-1700s as ornamental plants. However, coffee production didn’t really take off until the 1860s when the country’s natural dye industry was overtaken by synthetic products, and a new industry was needed to save the economy.
The government encouraged the growth of coffee plantations, and coffee quickly became the country’s largest export. In fact, up until 2011, Guatemala was one of the top 5 largest coffee-producing countries when Honduras finally surpassed it.
Similar to other Central American origins, Guatemalan coffee is largely characterised by its rich diversity and optimal growing conditions, including consistent rainfall and mineral-rich soil.
More than 225,000 hectares of land are dedicated to the growing of coffee, with production spread across eight distinct regions: Antigua, Acatenango Valley, Atitlan, Cobán, Fraijanes Plateau, Huehuetenango, Nueva Oriente, and San Marcos.
Although large-scale farmers account for around 45% of the country’s total coffee output, there are approximately 40,000 smallholder family-run farms that produce a range of varieties, including caturra, bourbon, catuai, and pacamara.
- Harvest: November - April
Blog posts
Impact Trade: A Direct Approach to Ethical Coffee Sourcing
At Amokka®, we believe that great coffee should benefit not just those who drink it but also those who grow it. That’s why we created Impact Trade a sourcing model that prioritizes long-term partne...
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It wasn't until 2004 that Geisha gained the recognition it deserved on the Specialty Coffee scene. In a gutsy move, one farm entered a sample of their Geisha in that year's Best of Panama competit...
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Probably one of the biggest buzzwords in the last couple of years, be it wine, beer, grain, vegetables, coffee or any naturally produced product. What is it that we talk about when we mention Terro...
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