Coffee and Cacao from Guatemala.
When visiting Guatemala, visitors look for the chance to visit local coffee roasters so they can observe their manual coffee roasters in their charming stores. To get coffee beans to the ultimate stage—roasted premium single-origin coffee beans—skilled roasters are needed, as coffee roasting is an art.
Six main varieties of Arabica coffee beans are grown in Guatemala: Typica, Caturra, Bourbon, Catuai, Pache, and Maragogipe. Typica: This variety is known for its tall stature, low yield, and high susceptibility to coffee leaf rust.
Guatemala Coffee Characteristics
Growing Altitude1,300 – 2,000 meters above sea level
AromaCitrus, Sweet floral aromaFlavor
Chocolaty, Sweet, Fruity, Wine, Nutty
BodyFull, BalancedAcidityBright, Pleasant, Persistent, Intense
Coffee and Cacao from Guatemala. Around Lake Atitlan, there are no cocoa plants.
I think it takes an hour to get to the closest farm from Lake Atitlan. Sadly, those that supply or offer cacao only offer Criollo cacao. Having said that, real chocolate enthusiasts favor this type of cocoa. Trinitario is a premium cacao from the northern region of Rio Dulce. Cacao Ceremonies have become very popular, ask before you book.
I love my coffee with some cacao added, I grind my Beans from Rosa in San Juan, and Cacao I obtain from the north.
Unfortunately, a blend is typically served as the premium coffee available in the United States; this is a less expensive method of making a cup of coffee at your preferred coffee shop.
One pound of coffee will usually yield about thirty cups of coffee, but if you prefer espresso, you can get up to seventy shots.
According to 2022 data, the average price for a cup of coffee in the United States is $4.90.
The coffee shop grosses $150 on a pound of Guatemala coffee.
On average a premium producer is paid in Guatemala $5.14 per pound and has to pay shipping.