Sourcing Coffee in Coban, Guatemala.

Finca Santa Isabel is a farm in Guatemala and one which we have bought from for the past few years.

I first discovered this coffee about four years ago at a cupping with one of our suppliers, Mercanta based in London. On a table full of Kenyan samples sat this coffee from a producer from Guatemala it had all the characteristics of Kenyan coffee, fruity aromatics bold acidity and a rather winey flavour profile.  I chose the coffee as my favourite without knowing where it was from it just really stood out. We have bought this coffee every year since and I always get excited when summer comes and it arrives in the roastery.

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Sourcing coffee in Coban, Guatemala.

Pablo José Ferrigno Figueroa, a third generation coffee grower, decided to embark on a new venture in 1991 growing only speciality coffee.  Pablo’s roots are in coffee, his family comes from Italy and had established several farms and an export company.  However these farms and businesses were in the coastal areas and at low altitude flavour was less important and so Pablo was really embarking on something completely new. I should mention at this point that this farm is not really in the region of Coban but is in Tactic 20km up the road. 

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Sourcing coffee in Huehuetenango, Guatemala.

Before I start on my time in Huehuetenango, I want to explain a little about Guatemala (in my view) and my reasons for taking a trip there.  Guatemala is relatively small but diverse country for coffee as well as climate and culture.  As with any coffee producing country there are many regions and sub-regions all of which produce excellent coffee. All these areas offer different flavour profiles and cup qualities.  This being said my general view of Guatemalan coffee is nutty, sweet, balanced, chocolate.  I love to buy Guatemalan coffee as this general flavour profile makes for fantastic espresso and milk based drinks as well as super moreish filter coffee.

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