Guatemala CP Select Antigua

Guatemala has seven distinct growing regions Huehuetenango is one and we have beans from that area. Antigua is another.

Grown in south central Guatemala within in the valley of Antigua, under the watch of three volcanos, these are medium to medium-full bodied beans. Look for a smooth bittersweet chocolate and touches of citrus. Wet processed. Beautiful prep. pairs well with chocolate.

This most famous region falls between 4.500 and 5.500 feet above sea level in a very uniform climate. Harvest is between December and March. Throughout the year humidity is a constant 65% from the pumice content in the soil. Other regions vary widely in humidity.

Described by guatemalancoffees.com as, "Rich volcanic soil, low humidity, lots of sun and cool nights characterize the Antigua region. The valley is dominated by the magnificent Agua, Acatenango and Fuego volcanoes. Every once in a while, Fuego –one of Guatemala’s three active volcanoes– adds a fresh dusting of mineral rich ash to Antigua’s soil. Volcanic pumice in the soil retains moisture, which helps offset Antigua’s low rainfall, the lowest of Guatemala’s eight coffee regions. Like all of Guatemala’s specialty coffee, Antigua Coffee is cultivated under shade. In Antigua, shade is especially dense to protect the coffee trees from the region’s occasional frost during the chilly nights from December to February. The dense shade, combined with the region’s shallow water table, produces a distinct microclimate within the coffee fields."

For basic drip French press etc, do take the beans up to second crack, but stop. Hitting it hot and fast vs slow and drawn out will modulate the brightness/body. That will be a function of your machine and batch size. If you're a dark roast fan go ahead and do a second batch and really give yourself that smokey roasty quality you crave - then blend the two together. Play with the ratio until you hit the mark. Blending to itself can sometimes be the best of both worlds. Going dark will play up the chocolate, but you lose the subtle citrus. Your hot fast air roaster will be brighter than your drum roaster so factor that in to working out the ratio. You may even find a fleeting slightly spicy effect, especially as it cools.

In an espresso try 60% of our Brazil ND, 20% Colombian Patron, and 20% Guat Antigua. You should end up with a pretty straight forward syrupy, creamy, slightly carmely shot with a nice aroma.