Guatemala - La Flor Del Café - Antigua - Single Origin

Almost exactly the size of Tennessee, with approximately 2 ½ times the population, and 1200 miles from the southernmost Texas border, Guatemala is considered the pinnacle of Central American Coffee. Bordered north and west by Mexico, east by Belize, southeast by Honduras and southwest by El Salvador, while complimented by a long southwestern Pacific coastline and abbreviated northeastern Caribbean coastline located directly between Belize and Honduras, Guatemala can be considered the gateway to Central America.  Traveling south along the Pan American highway the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Tikal National Park can be found around mile marker 4,400 in northern Guatemala just south of Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula.  Here, amid Guatemala’s biodiverse tropical rainforest, are the ancient pre-Columbian Maya ruins of Yax Mutal with monumental architecture dating to 4th century BC, while reaching its apogee 200 – 900 CE, and during which time dominated much of the Maya region. The ruins are cradled by the expansive rainforest which boasts a lush and varied ecosystem, meriting it among the world’s most varied ecological wonders.

Although Yax Mutal is certainly among civilization’s greatest wonders, our exploration takes us 320 miles south to Antigua, one of the great regional, as well as international, coffee wonders.  At the heart of the region is the city of Antigua Guatemala, literally meaning Old Guatemala, and located only 25 miles west of Guatemala City, the counties capital.  Yet another UNESCO World Heritage Site, Antigua is lauded for outstanding Spanish Baroque-influenced architecture, the general city layout, churches, ruins and the city’s overall importance during the countries early colonial period. Many of the original Central American coffee estate land grants are found in the Antigua region. La Flor Del Café translates to “flower of the coffee”. Your “flowers” have been carefully handpicked by many small local farmers and delivered to the Beneficio Pastores Mill where processing, milling and hand sorting are meticulously executed. The Pastores Mill originally functioned as a flour mill in the 1800’s but has since been modernized into a 21st century coffee “sanctum” … Beneficio Pastores translates to “Shepards Benefit” and Pastores alone translates to “Spiritual Overseer”.  La Flor Del Café transcends an ethereal plane giving a balanced creamy bittersweet rich buttery chocolate aroma and flavor with subtle hints of fruit and citrus.   Perchance you will have that morning transcendental experience or simply start your day with delicious satisfaction, however, no debating that the sunrise will be just a little brighter after imbibing in Guatemala’s  “Aqua Sancta” … “Divine Water”.   

Process: Wet… Washed

Elevation: 3900 – 5200 feet

Aroma: Fresh grounds smell of sweet cocoa with a hint of baking spice. The cup aroma is classic on the nose with rich dark chocolate notes.  The aroma really transcends.

Flavor: Chocolaty, nutty, buttery and rich with subtle fruit and citrus. 

Roast: Medium… Creamy, balanced and full bodied with medium brightness. Very balanced.