Guatemala is one of the most influential coffee growing regions of the world. The region is famed for high-quality coffee. Guatemalan coffee benefits from the high elevation, rainfall, and warm climate of the region. Central America is well-known for the quality coffee beans it produces. And the foremost amongst these coffee producing regions is Guatemala.
Top Guatemala Coffee Choices For This Year
- Two Volcanoes Coffee – Gourmet Guatemala Whole Bean Medium Roast Single-Origin Coffee
- Java Planet – Organic Coffee Beans- Guatemalan Single Origin
- Volcanica Coffee Guatemala Peaberry Coffee
- Fresh Roasted Coffee LLC, Dark Guatemalan Huehuetenango Coffee
- Cubico Coffee Guatemala Antigua Coffee
- Maddat Coffee Guatemala Huehuetenango Coffee Whole Bean
- Pablo’s Pride Gourmet Coffee – Guatemala
- Gevalia Special Reserve Guatemala Ground Coffee
- EKOCUPS Artisan Guatemalan Coffee
Editor’s Choice: Java Planet – Organic Coffee Beans – Guatemalan Single Origin
This organic coffee is deliciously flavorful and has a rich aroma. Grown at high altitude with the right temperature and climate conditions, Java Planet – Organic Coffee Beans – Guatemalan Single Origin beans are impressively tasteful.
Top Guatemala Coffee Options Reviewed
1. Two Volcanoes Coffee – Gourmet Guatemala Whole Bean Medium Roast Single-Origin Coffee
This coffee comes from Acatenango, located close to Antigua and one of the major coffee producing regions of Guatemala. The name of the coffee comes from a volcano in the region with two peaks. Coffee is grown on the valley between the two peaks and this Acatenango Valley is quite famous for quality coffee.
The seller claims the coffee is organic, though it doesn’t seem to be USDA certified. Two Volcanoes Coffee – Gourmet Guatemala is a medium roast that brings out its flavor and taste notes. It tastes pretty good, but I can’t help but question its value for money – it seems too expensive, even for gourmet coffee.
Highlights
- Whole beans coffee
- Has a mild acidity
- Good flavor and aroma
- Expensive
- Coffee roast: medium
2. Java Planet – Organic Coffee Beans- Guatemalan Single Origin
Java Planet – Organic Coffee Beans- Guatemalan Single Origin got our seal of approval as the editor’s choice for this category. This coffee is organic and carries a USDA certification to prove that. Interestingly, it is also certified Smithsonian Bird Friendly. This means the coffee is organic and shade grown and the farms are a good habitat for birds.
Simply put, this coffee puts its environmental responsibilities as high as its taste bud responsibilities. This is a medium roast coffee with full body and flavor. You’ll enjoy taste notes of fruit, caramel, and chocolate with this coffee.
Highlights
- Whole beans coffee
- Fruity and chocolaty taste notes
- Good flavor and aroma
- Coffee roast: medium
- Certifications: USDA Organic, Smithsonian Bird Friendly
3. Volcanica Coffee Guatemala Peaberry Coffee
Volcanica Coffee Guatemala Peaberry Coffee shows the authentic taste of Guatemala coffee beans that have made this region so famous for its coffee. The beans used here are top quality Peaberry that adds more to the taste of the coffee.
The resulting brew has a heavy body with subtle smokey and spicy tones. A medium roast coffee, this is grown in the Antigua coffee region and benefits from the high altitude of the region. On average, this coffee is grown at altitudes of 5,000-6,000 feet, which is a major contributing factor to its delicious taste.
Highlights
- Whole beans coffee
- Spicy and smokey taste notes
- Excellent flavor and aroma
- Grown at an elevation of 5000-6000 feet
- Expensive
- Coffee roast: medium
4. Fresh Roasted Coffee LLC, Dark Guatemalan Huehuetenango Coffee
These dark Guatemala coffee beans hold a bold flavor and excellent taste. It has a smooth finish with touches of spicy taste notes and there’s barely any acidity. As its name implies, the coffee is sourced from the Huehuetenango coffee growing region of Guatemala.
Beans used here are high-quality Bourbon and Caturra varietals. Fresh Roasted Coffee LLC, Dark Guatemalan Huehuetenango Coffee is high grown and looks at the top of the elevation ceiling. The coffee is grown at an elevation ranging from 5000 feet to 6000 feet, which is about as high as you can go to grow coffee. That should explain why this gourmet coffee gets such great taste.
Highlights
- Good value for money
- Whole beans coffee
- High grown coffee, grown at 5000-6000 feet altitude
- Great flavor and aroma
- Coffee roast: dark
5. Cubico Coffee Guatemala Antigua Coffee
Sourced from the Antigua region, Cubico Coffee Guatemala Antigua Coffee is another high altitude volcanic soil offering. It brews a medium-bodied cup with taste notes of milk chocolate and orange. A bright acidity completes the flavor profile of this medium roast.
This coffee-growing region sits between three volcanoes, and has high-altitude to boast along with rich volcanic soil. The coffee is available as medium roast coffee beans and K cup pods.
Highlights
- Good taste and aroma
- Available as whole beans and K cups
- High grown coffee, with altitude of 5000 feet
- Coffee roast: medium
6. Maddat Coffee Guatemala Huehuetenango Coffee Whole Bean
Maddat Coffee Guatemala Huehuetenango Coffee is a medium roast with fruity notes. The premium quality coffee is high-grown and certified USDA organic and fair trade. Coffee beans are sourced from farms in the Huehuetenango region of northern Guatemala.
Highlights
- Excellent taste and aroma
- Whole beans coffee
- High grown coffee from the highlands of Huehuetenango
- Certifications: USDA Organic, Fair Trade
- Coffee roast: medium
7. Pablo’s Pride Gourmet Coffee – Guatemala
Pablo’s Pride Gourmet Coffee is non-GMO Guatemalan coffee with a velvety body and taste notes of caramel and cocoa finish. This low acidity coffee is a medium dark roast that highlights the taste notes and flavor of this remarkable coffee.
Highlights
- Whole beans coffee with low acidity
- Non-GMO coffee
- Good taste and aroma
- Coffee roast: medium roast
8. Gevalia Special Reserve Guatemala Ground Coffee
Gevalia Special Reserve Guatemala Ground Coffee builds on the well-known reputation of the brand. It offers a bold and rich taste with a lovely aroma. This is a medium-bodied coffee that is enjoyable, thanks to earthy and smoky notes.
Highlights
- Ground coffee
- High-quality Guatemalan coffee
- Coffee roast: medium
9. EKOCUPS Artisan Guatemalan Coffee
Single serve goodness of Guatemala coffee shows up wonderfully in these K cups. Ekocups Artisan Guatemalan Coffee brews a bold cup of gourmet coffee with a strong body and rich finish. The bold touch comes with adding more coffee to the K cup. Rather than the usual 10 grams per K cup, this one gets 13 grams of coffee per K cup.
A greater amount of coffee makes this a K cup that is bolder and stronger. The gourmet coffee is rich in flavor and taste. The K Cup is certified USDA organic, Fair Trade, and Orthodox Union Kosher.
Highlights
- K cup coffee
- Gourmet Guatemalan coffee
- Strong and bold coffee
- Certifications: USDA Organic, Fair Trade, Orthodox Union Kosher
- Coffee roast: medium
A Guide And Quick Tips On Guatemalan Coffee
Coffee Growing Regions Of Guatemala
Though it is a small Central American country, Guatemala is a major producer and exporter of coffee. The high rainfall, temperature and climate, and altitude play a role in the unique taste and flavor of the coffee. There are eight coffee growing regions in Guatemala, which are Antigua, Acatenango, Atitlán, Cobán, Huehuetenango, Fraijanes Plateau, San Marcos, and Nuevo Oriente.
Antigua region is the best known, followed by its neighbor Acatenango. Close to this is the popular Huehuetenango region famous for great coffee. Let’s take a closer look at the major regions.
- Antigua: Three volcanoes surround this region and have left it covered in rich volcanic soil. Add to that the tropical climate, and we have an excellent coffee growing region.
- Acatenango: Located remarkably close to Antigua, this region too has the touch of volcanoes and is rich in volcanic soil
- Huehuetenango: This region is important to note because it is one of the non-volcanic coffee growing regions of Guatemala. Its high altitude lends itself well to high-quality coffee. Its relatively lower rainfall is another important aspect. However, the soil is kept moist by several rivers and streams flowing through. Interestingly, the low rainfall also means the plants are protected from frost which would otherwise be a big problem at this altitude.
On Flavor And Taste Of Guatemala Coffee
The primary coffee grown in Guatemala is Arabica, though the country doesn’t have Costa Rica coffee style “arabica only” law. Primarily, varietals grown here are Catuai, Caturra, Typica, and Bourbon. Guatemala coffee is generally expected to be strong with moderate acidity and wonderful flavors that make it oh so desirable.
Processing is an important aspect that defines the flavor and taste of coffee. Guatemala is a region with high rainfall and humidity. For several regions, traditional sun drying isn’t likely to work as a processing method.
Therefore, the wet process is the most commonly used method to manage Guatemalan coffee. Cherries are pulped by a machine and the bean is exposed. An interesting result of this process is that coffee beans end up being fermented for a day or two.
This results in the beans releasing their oil and the intrinsic flavor of the beans getting highlighted. A bump in the acidity might also be involved.
FAQs Related To Guatemala Coffee
Is Guatemalan Coffee Strong?
Yes. Guatemalan coffee is known to be strong with moderate acidity. This is generally a full-bodied and deliciously flavored coffee with an equally strong aroma. A major factor is availability of higher altitudes for growing coffee. Due to the elevation, coffee beans take longer to grow. Due to developing slowly, the beans get more time to develop complex sugars. Overall, this results in denser coffee cherry, which in turn results in stronger coffee.
Why Is Guatemalan Coffee So Good?
Several factors come together to make Guatemalan coffee so good. The climate, rainfall, and volcanic soil come together beautifully to make an excellent environment for growing coffee. Another factor is that the volcanic region presents high altitudes that allow coffee to take on a more complex and nuanced flavor.
With all of these natural factors coming together, Guatemalan coffee gets a huge boost in its taste and performance. It also helps that coffee is one of the most important crops of the country. So political/government and commercial assistance is readily available to help/clear out any problems that may be bothering coffee growth or its potential.
How Does Altitude Affect Coffee Growing?
An important factor that makes Guatemala coffee so delicious is the ready availability of high altitude coffee growing regions. At higher altitudes, coffee beans are slower to develop. This allows them to make complex sugars and a denser coffee cherry.
This inherently makes it a higher quality coffee. These beans tend to be more acidic and result in sought-after fruity and flowery flavors in the cup.
Picking The Guatemala Coffee Beans Of Choice
Getting the right hit on Guatemalan coffee is both easy and convenient. This is one of the most popular coffees in the world, and for good reason. While the coffee is available in practically all formats imaginable, my suggestion is to get it as whole beans. If you’re getting gourmet coffee, go the extra few steps and grind it right before you choose to enjoy your coffee.