With dry, hot winds blow into Guatemala from Mexico's Tehuantepec plain, the highland Huehuetenango region is protected from frost, which allows for cultivation at extreme altitudes of beans with a fine acidity, full body and wine-like notes.
Octavio grows shade trees, including Chalum, Gravilea and other local trees like pine and oak, which he believes gives his coffee its unique characteristics. Due to harder growing conditions and climate change, the coffee fields need a lot more attention and investment.
Today, Guatemala has a very strong in-country support system for coffee producers. They also have a strong marketing presence to promote Guatemalan coffee globally. Guatemala accounts for 2.5% of the world's total coffee production.
Rick of Pharmacie Coffee Roasters says he can't think of many other countries where excellent coffee is in such high abundance. Marathon cuppings in Guatemala are invigorating and exciting; quite literally there is an incredible amount of low-hanging fruit in Guatemala.
