Guatemala Washed SHB/EP 2025

Washed Coffee from Nuevo Oriente and Huehuetenango

This stellar regional blend combines the striking character of fully-washed coffee from Huehuetenango with the well-balanced and full-bodied tones of Nuevo Oriente. Grown at elevations ranging from 1,300 to 2,000masl, the high-altitude conditions and dry winds create an ideal microclimate for slow cherry maturation, contributing to a sweet cup profile with notes of baker’s chocolate, brown sugar, and nougat. The region's predominantly limestone and volcanic soils contribute to the coffee’s crisp acidity and structured body, presenting in this lot as notes of fresh green apple.

Over 100,000 producers in Guatemala are smallholder farmers with under two hectares of farmland who grow coffee under shade trees, promoting biodiversity and sustainable farming practices. Washed processing is the most common method, allowing the coffee’s inherent brightness and clarity to shine. This coffee was milled at El Trebol and offers a consistently exceptional cup that showcases the best of Guatemalan terroir.

How is High Quality Coffee Graded in Guatemala?

The coffee grading system in Guatemala is based on the altitude at which the coffee was grown. A Strictly Hard Bean (SHB) coffee grows at altitudes of 1,200 meters above sea level or higher. When coffee cherries grow at high altitudes, they tend to mature more slowly. This allows the fruit to take in more nutrients, resulting in denser, sweeter green coffee beans that are considered higher quality. During dry milling, this lot was further sorted to European Preparation (EP) specifications with a minimum screen size of 15 and above and a maximum of eight defects within 300 grams.

Guatemala Green Coffee

Guatemala owes its distinctive, mountainous topography, lush rainforests, biodiversity, and its coffee to massive volcanic activity. Volcanic peaks and mountains roll across the country and carve out Guatemala’s unique coffee-growing regions. Together with the rich soil left behind in the wake of immense volcanic activity, Guatemala has the ideal conditions for coffee production.

According to the USDA, the 2024/25 harvest is projected to decline slightly to 3.25 million 60-kg bags, down from the revised 3.26 million bags of the previous season, largely due to El Niño causing dry conditions. Coffee rust remains a challenge for poorly managed farms, and the coffee borer pest is exacerbated by ongoing labor shortages linked to migration, preventing timely harvesting of mature coffee. Coffee cultivation currently covers 3.5% of the national territory, making it the country’s largest agroforestry system, with production spanning 261 of 340 municipalities. Farmers are significantly increasing shade-grown Arabica agronomy as more producers pursue specialty coffee markets and eco-friendly certifications. Learn more in our Guatemala Origin Report.