ORIGIN : Jacaltenango, Guatemala
FARMER : Antonio Domingo Cota
ALTITUDE :
1725 - 1750 m
VARIETAL : Caturra
PROCESSING : Fully Washed, Patio Drying
ROAST : Dark
TASTING NOTES : Dark Chocolate, Roast, Spice, Caramelized Sugar, Dried Apricot
Antonio Domingo Cota has been a coffee farmer his whole life. At nearly eighty-years-old, the mastery of his craft can be tasted through every cup, in coffees like our staple Rogue Wave.
Antonio strategically spaces his coffee shrubs to encourage good quality over high yield. He places other types of plants in between his rows to prevent soil erosion, with a wide variety of fruit trees (i.e. avocado, apricot, passion fruit, etc) that provide adequate shade for the coffee shrubs, homes to birds, and beautiful flowers notably for his wife. This lush ecosystem is pollinated by his bees, whose hives he cares for as part of his farm.
During our last annual visit, we caught up with Antonio and other partners at Asociacion Civil Guaya’b to learn of developments on the farm and with the coop. Notably, quality standards have only gotten better, as their team works to cup every lot that comes into their processing facility, giving it a score and collaborating with farmers to improve the caliber of coffee they produce. Agronomists at Guaya’b likewise continue to support producers by making plans to acquire new trees to reforest on their farms, and educating them on how to make their own nurseries. The board of directors works to strategically allocate funds and strengthen the social standing of all its members.
Guaya’b comes from the indigenous Mayan language Popti’ and means ‘mutual support’ - a fitting translation for our long-standing relationships in this region of Guatemala.
We roast on Tuesdays and Wednesdays and to ensure the best tasting coffees, orders received after Monday may not be processed or shipped until the following week.