Guatemala washed Arabica HB EP

Guatemala is a beautiful country in Central America, with rich indigenous culture and stunning natural habitats. The most striking features of its landscape are the 37 volcanoes, several of them still being active. These volcanoes are not only attractive for travelers exploring the country but make up the distinct characters to be found in Guatemalan coffees.

It is believed that coffee was first introduced to Guatemala by the Jesuits around 1740. However, coffee only became a relevant crop after 1856, when the invention of dyes reduced the demand for indigo, which used to be the main cash crop at the time.Today, Guatemala is home to some 125,000 coffee producers who drive the coffee industry in eight different regions.

This coffee was produced by smallholder farmers who are members of the Federación de Pequeños Productores de Café de Guatemala, also known as FEDECOCAGUA. Founded in 1969, the cooperative is a private organization composed of various smaller cooperatives. Together, approximately 20,000 small coffee producers market their coffee through this network.

This washed lot is classified as HB EP. HB stands for “Hard Bean,” indicating that the beans were grown at altitudes between 1,200 and 1,300 masl. EP stands for “European Preparation,” which refers to the screen size (15+) and the low defect tolerance of the lot.