Guatemala

Ranging from the classic chocolate-apple-toffee to the wilder sparkling and floral profile, Guatemalan coffees have a particular texture that makes them unique. Full-bodied yet soft and incredibly clean, this is an exceptional origin to drink every day without ever getting bored. Bordering Mexico, Honduras and El Salvador, Guatemala is the 2nd largest coffee producer in Central America and exports mainly to the United States, Canada and Japan. 

There are 125.000 producers in the country and around 95% of them are considered small. Many growers in Guatemala have their own wet mills and drying facilities at the farm and sell coffee in parchment. Farmers, even small ones, can be incredibly professional and specialized. Some wet mills are owned by cooperatives or intermediaries and serve specific towns, where growers will bring cherries to process. Others will hire the services of dry-mills and export directly. The harvest runs from November to March.

Guatemala has 8 coffee-growing regions: Acatenango, Antigua, Atitlan, Coban, Fraijanes, Huehuetenango, New Oriente and San Marcos. However, coffee is produced in all 22 departments and is present in 60% of Guatemalan municipalities. Coffee is one of Guatemala’s main exports and plays an important role in the economy. Known by their quality and good processing practices, Guatemalan coffees also benefit from high altitudes - most farms are placed above 1300m - and volcanic mineral-rich soils. There are over 30 active volcanoes in the country! 

Algrano has been partnering with Guatemalan producers since 2016. Part of our strategy in the country is to showcase less-known regions, opening space for producers which have had fewer marketing opportunities in Europe. The platform has marketed coffees from all regions, with traceability going back to towns and villages like Palencia in Atlitan and Ciudad Vieja in Antigua. We work mainly with small cooperatives supporting small growers - such as FECCEG in El Quiché department and Conebosque in Santa Rosa - as well as independent farmers and exporters TTCo (Truth Trading Company), who act as service providers to small and medium farms around the country. We also partner with the family-owned mill San Miguel Coffees for regional blends sourced from small and medium farms.