• Producer Erwin Argueta
• Attributes Caturra and Bourbon
• Origin Huehuetenango, Guatemala
• Profile Loads of brown sugar, butter and subtle stone fruit

Erwin is a third-generation coffee grower, and perhaps the most motivated and curious self-described “hustler” coffee producer that we work with in Huehuetenango. Despite climate change, low local market prices, and production challenges, he has focused on specialty coffee and prioritized quality- upgrading processing equipment, hiring technical experts to advise on ecological management, and working to be a good steward of the land.

Erwin has several different coffee varieties planted, including catimor, bourbon, caturra, gesha, maragogygpe, pacamara, villa sarchi, and even a few trees from some SL 28 seeds. While many farms across Guatemala (especially in Huehuetenango, which is so close to the border with Mexico and ) struggle to find sufficient labour, Erwin is managing okay., He reported that he had 12 workers in 2021 of which 7 left for the USA. Now he has a total of 8 but a higher proportion of women who in fact perform the role of picking much better.

Processing on the farm is traditional (meaning not highly technified). Erwin floats the cherries to remove the over- and under-ripe cherries, and then pulps the coffee, after which it is allowed to ferment in an open tank (protected by a roof providing shade) for about 18 hours before being washing and sorted for density through channels. Afterwards it is dried on a mix of raised beds and patio. Erwin’s coffees have placed in the Cup of Excellence in 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021. This is a stunning achievement as Erwin is always one of very few small-scale producers entered into the competition. He is also one of only a few producers to enter washed-process, traditional varieties, not exotics. Roasted for espresso brewing.

We ship coffee as whole beans by default, if you need your coffee ground, please let us know at the checkout.