La Voz Coffee Cooperative San Juan La Laguna

La Voz Coffee Cooperative, located in San Juan La Laguna by Lake Atitlán in Guatemala, is an established and reputable coffee-producing cooperative known for its commitment to organic, high-quality coffee and sustainable farming practices. Here’s a detailed look at their history, coffee types, and certifications:

1. Founding and History

La Voz Que Clama en el Desierto, commonly referred to as “La Voz,” was founded in the 1970s as a small cooperative of local coffee farmers from indigenous backgrounds. Located on the scenic slopes surrounding Lake Atitlán, it originally began as a means to consolidate resources, ensure fairer trade practices, and improve the livelihoods of local coffee growers. Over the decades, La Voz has grown to include around 160 members, primarily from the Tz’utujil ethnic group, which is one of the Mayan groups in the area.

2. Coffee Varieties and Growing Practices

The cooperative focuses on producing high-quality Arabica coffee beans, specifically growing several varieties such as Bourbon, Caturra, and Typica. The altitude and rich volcanic soils surrounding Lake Atitlán create an ideal environment for coffee cultivation, which gives their coffee a distinct, clean, and vibrant taste profile. The coffee is shade-grown under indigenous trees, helping protect biodiversity and maintain the ecological balance within the region.

3. Organic and Fair Trade Certifications

La Voz is both organic and Fair Trade certified, underscoring its dedication to sustainable and socially responsible farming. These certifications reflect the cooperative’s commitment to using environmentally friendly farming practices without chemical pesticides or synthetic fertilizers. Fair Trade certification also ensures that the farmers receive fair compensation for their coffee, which directly supports their communities.

The organic certification for La Voz Coffee Cooperative is typically provided by globally recognized organic certification bodies that assess and validate the cooperative’s adherence to organic standards. For La Voz, this certification often comes from agencies such as USDA Organic for the U.S. market and European Union Organic for the European market. The cooperative may also be certified by international organizations specializing in organic agricultural practices and fair trade, such as OCIA International (Organic Crop Improvement Association), which is known to certify various organic coffee producers in Guatemala.

4. Community and Social Impact

The cooperative serves as an anchor for community empowerment, focusing on improving local education, health, and infrastructure. La Voz plays a significant role in the socio-economic development of San Juan La Laguna, emphasizing capacity building and sustainable development that directly benefits member farmers and their families.

For additional information, you can explore sources like Grow Your Own Cure and InterAmerican Coffee, which provide further insights into La Voz’s sustainable practices and community initiatives.

Lake Atitlán Christmas Coffee

La Voz Coffee Cooperative in San Juan La Laguna, Guatemala, primarily uses the wet processing (or washed) method for their coffee. This method is well-suited to the cooperative’s operations, as it yields a clean and vibrant coffee profile that highlights the quality of the beans grown in the volcanic soils around Lake Atitlán.

Key Steps in the Wet Processing Method at La Voz

  1. Depulping: The cooperative removes the cherry pulp from the coffee beans using mechanical depulpers.
  2. Fermentation: The beans are left to ferment in water for a set period to break down the mucilage (a sticky layer around the beans).
  3. Washing: After fermentation, the beans are thoroughly washed to remove any remaining mucilage.
  4. Drying: Finally, the beans are sun-dried on large, outdoor patios. This patio drying allows for gradual drying under controlled conditions, which preserves the coffee’s flavor.

This combination of wet processing and patio drying is commonly used in Guatemalan cooperatives to produce high-quality, complex-flavor coffee profiles.

In the words of now 82-year-old Don Domingo Cholotio Quic, one of the 25 founding members, “You reap what you sow.” 

Cupping notes: Bright acidity, creamy body; milk chocolate, citrus fruits, green apple.