Guatemala, Cubulco

Roast level:  medium

Characteristics:  milk chocolate, brown sugar, dried fruit

Varietal:  catuai, caturra, bourbon

Processing:  washed

Region:  Cubulco, Baja Verapaz

Importer:  Genuine Origin

Size:  10 oz

From the importer:

Cubulco is a small town in the heart of Guatemala, located in the department of Baja Verapaz. A high percentage of the population is indigenous, with the majority being of Achi Mayan descent. Altitudes range from 1600 to 1800masl, and small-sized farms dot the highlands. Most farmers employ traditional agricultural practices and operate their own wet mills in the region

In the “washed” or “wet” process coffee cherries are floated and sorted to ensure consistent ripeness and to remove any defective cherries. The seeds (coffee beans) are then removed from their skins using depulping machines and typically moved to fermentation tanks to remove the mucilage—the remaining fruit remnants. Afterward, the coffee is dried until it reaches the optimal moisture level.  

Washed processing has become widely popular. The cup profile of washed coffees tends to reflect the terroir of the coffee. The processing method allows the growing conditions, the region, and the true character of the coffee to shine through.