Guatemala | Wiwitz

Grown by Juan Rodriguez and his wife on their 1.1-hectare farm in the remote highlands of Huehuetenango, Guatemala, this coffee reflects the dedication of smallholder farmers producing exceptional lots. Smooth, clean and beautifully balanced, this washed coffee offers notes of candied orange peel and toasted almonds.

Huehuetenango’s unique climate and high altitudes create ideal growing conditions, with hot dry winds from Mexico’s Tehuantepec Plain balancing the cooler mountain temperatures. This remote region, known for its challenging roads and long journeys, is home to many small farms where producers process their coffee at home. The result is coffees that often display vibrant acidity, full body, and delightful wine-like, floral, and fruity notes.

Having learned coffee cultivation from their parents, Juan and his wife built their farm from the ground up, starting with a nursery to grow coffee seedlings before planting them across their land. Today, their farm produces around 830 kilograms of coffee annually, with varieties including Caturra, Bourbon, and Catimor thriving under the shade of Chalun, Gravilea and fruit trees.

Juan’s coffee plot, Wiwizt, means “Up the Hill” in the Mayan Popti language. In Huehuetenango, smallholder farmers often cultivate multiple small plots rather than large farms, naming them after their location or landmarks – Wiwizt (Up the Hill), Tzun Witz (Above the Hill) and Q’jna (Old House). With land ownership less common, farmers typically carry their harvested cherries from higher altitudes back to their villages, where they process and dry the coffee on patios or raised beds.

This washed coffee is carefully processed by Juan himself. The coffee is depulped on the same day it is picked, fermented for 24-32 hours, then soaked in clean water for an additional 12 hours before being dried on patios for three days. Juan carries out much of the farm’s day-to-day work himself, from weeding to pruning and applying compost, demonstrating care and commitment at every stage of production to provide the best possible income for his family.

We’ve sourced this coffee through Primavera Green Coffee, a team with years of experience sourcing in Guatemala, committed to building relationships with producers. Their work empowers and supports the next generation of farmers in Huehuetenango through trade and agronomy programs, ensuring a sustainable future for coffee production in the region. This coffee is a testament to the skill, dedication and passion of Juan and his family.