Java Junky: Guatemalan Coffee

The Coffees Of Guatemala

Connoisseurs love Guatemalan coffee because it is actually some of the best tasting coffee in the world. You can get a wide variety of tastes and aromas, as there are multiple areas of this country that produce coffee, and they all have differences in their growing conditions.

If you really want to get the best coffee out of Guatemala, you will want to try the varieties that have been purchased from the smaller family farms or co-ops. The larger plantations produce lower quality coffee that has actually been grown at a lower altitude. Unfortunately, there are mass quantities of this lower quality coffee being sold to exporters. However, if you were to try a cup of organic coffee from Guatemala, you would most definitely taste the difference, as it can be quite impressive.

Some of the cooperatives in Guatemala actually have their own mills. Keep in mind that it can be quite difficult for farmers in Guatemala to get their coffee to the market because of the fact that they are not dealing with the best of conditions when it comes to the roads that they have to travel. Even the weather conditions there will often cause problems when the Guatemalan farmers are trying to bring their coffee to the market.

The rainforest in Guatemala produces more of a medium bodied coffee. There is not a whole lot of sunlight there, and the unique soil that the coffee is grown in mixed with the high levels of humidity brings forth a blend of coffee that has an aroma similar to wine.

Another place that grows high quality coffee is Antigua, which happens to be situated near several volcanoes. Here the climate is just right for growing coffee, and the beans that come from this region will have a rich aroma with a stronger taste.

The Guatemalan coffee beans that tend to be everyone's favorite come from the Fraijanes Plateau. Here, there is a volcano that provides mineral-rich ashes so that the coffee grown here is superior to others. The high levels of potassium in the soil here add to the taste of the coffee that is grown at this location.

One thing that you should be aware of is that fair trade coffee makes a huge difference to the people of Guatemala when it comes to their quality of life. It fetches a much higher price, which offers more opportunities for those who grow and produce the coffee. Many families have been able to send their children to school thanks to fair trade coffee.

It is true that you will be able to get your coffee at a lower price if you purchase it from the larger plantations, but if you do it will not be anywhere near as high in quality as what you would get if you purchased the organic coffee from Guatemala. You can benefit from fair trade coffee too in a sense that you will be able to Guatemalan coffee that is much higher in quality.

Where is the best place to purchase good Guatemalan coffee?
I am looking for the best online website to purchase Guatemalan coffee.

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A Question About Good Coffee?
Last year I went to Guatemala and since returning I have been haunted by the coffee I had in one particular cafe. It was an average cafe by any standards but the coffee served was excellent. Since returning I have tried many different beans whether from a supermarket or Starbucks etc, none of them come even close to how good it was. So the other day I ordered some gourmet Guatemalan coffee from here: http://www.hasbean.co.uk/ the bean I ordered was in the top 10 coffees of Guatemala and is freshly roasted the day before sending. Although it was the closet yet, it still wasn't in the same ball park. I use a French press to brew the coffee, so you experts out there...is it the way I make the coffee or the bean I use, what am I doing wrong?

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A Question About Good Coffee?
Last year I went to Guatemala and since returning I have been haunted by the coffee I had in one particular cafe. It was an average cafe by any standards but the coffee served was excellent. Since returning I have tried many different beans whether from a supermarket or Starbucks etc, none of them come even close to how good it was. So the other day I ordered some gourmet Guatemalan coffee from here: http://www.hasbean.co.uk/ (I live in the UK) the bean I ordered was in the top 10 coffees of Guatemala and is freshly roasted the day before sending. Although it was the closet yet, it still wasn't in the same ball park. I use a French press to brew the coffee, so you experts out there...is it the way I make the coffee or the bean I use, what am I doing wrong?

Get the answers