Guatemala, Blue Ayarza - Medium roast

A dedicated grower! Taste this amazing coffee from Ayarza!

The Ayarza region is very special, the stunning landscape and the cold blue water of Laguna de Ayarza. The lake was formed by two massive volcanoes that collapsed and formed a large crater and the legends surrounding this lake are many and it is said that the bottom has never been found!

In Guatemala, coffee is traditionally processed individually by small farmers who are paid a premium for ripe cherries and processed centrally to maintain strict standards throughout. Arnaldo López is one of the many producers who send their coffee to the Ayarza washing station and has been involved in coffee production all his life. His father took him out into the fields to plant coffee trees as a child. Now Arnaldo has five children of his own and growing coffee has provided a platform for the family to grow and improve their quality of life. Arnaldo operates 12.6ha of land and production has varied greatly over the years. Like many farmers in this current crop, volume is down compared to previous years.

The coffee is grown at high altitudes up to 2000m. The berries are picked by hand and transported to a washing station for processing. The berries are placed in thick layers and then turned at regular intervals. The berries go from red to dark purple and then almost black. They are then lifted into a mechanical dryer for a few hours to get the last bit out. This has been experienced to improve the acidity in the cup!

Facts about the coffee:

• Guatemala, Santa Rosa, Ayarza
• Score: 86/100
• Grows: 1600-2000 m.a.s.l.
• Arabica: Bourbon, Catuai
• Process: Natural
• Flavor notes of red berries, plum & lavender

We send coffee that has rested up to 3 weeks after roasting when available but roast to order when needed. We ship the coffee as soon as possible.