Indulge in the rich and captivating flavors of Guatemala with our top picks for the best Guatemalan coffee brands.
Renowned for its unique growing conditions and meticulous cultivation, Guatemalan coffee offers a taste of Central American excellence.
In this article, we present our carefully curated selection of the 6 best Guatemalan coffee brands that promise to transport your taste buds on a journey through the highlands of flavor and aroma.
6 Best Guatemalan Coffee Brands: At A Glance
- Volcanica Guatemala Antigua Whole Bean Reserve: Best Overall
- Cooper’s Cask Guatemalan Organic Cold Brew Coffee: Runner-Up
- Stone Street Guatemala Antigua Gourmet Coffee
- Peace Coffee Guatemala Whole Bean Dark Roast
- Fresh Roasted Coffee Guatemalan Huehuetenango
- Cubico Guatemala Antigua Whole Bean Coffee
Review Of The 6 Best Guatemalan Coffee Brands
Now that you know what our picks for the 6 best Guatemalan coffee brands are, let’s take a closer look at each of them.
Volcanica Guatemala Antigua Whole Bean Reserve: Best Overall
Leading our selection is the Volcanica Guatemala Antigua.
This coffee comes in whole bean form, originating from the Antigua district’s elevated terrains and nourished by volcanic soil.
Harvested from the Medina Estate, it boasts a bold and smooth taste with a refined, deep-roasted fragrance.
Its gentle acidity sets it apart as a great low-acid coffee option for those with sensitive stomachs.
With hints of rich caramel, earthy tones, and a touch of smokiness, this USDA organic-certified coffee offers a truly distinctive experience.
Pros:
- Rich and captivating flavors
- Unique growing conditions
- Carefully curated selection
- Smooth and sophisticated flavor profile
- Intense dark roasted aroma
- Low acidity for a gentle experience
- Flavor notes of deep caramel, earthiness, and smoke
- USDA organic certified
Cons:
Cooper’s Cask Guatemalan Organic Cold Brew Coffee: Runner-Up
Cooper’s Cask Coffee and their Guatemalan Organic Cold Brew Coffee is a delightful creation crafted from the finest single-origin beans the region has to offer.
Freshly roasted to a medium level, this brew brings about a sweet and balanced taste, perfectly suited for cold brewing or other methods like pour-over, French press, and drip machines.
With flavor notes that dance between creamy caramel, milk chocolate, and a subtle hint of orange zest, accompanied by a citrusy aroma, this cold brew offers a truly refreshing experience.
What’s more, it’s a fair-trade and organic option, roasted right in Rhode Island.
Available in both whole bean and ground form, the package includes handy instructions on the back for mastering the art of preparing cold brew perfectly.
Pros
- Smooth and sweet taste featuring milk chocolate, orange, caramel, and nutty notes
- Crafted from the finest single-origin beans, freshly roasted
- Certified organic quality
- Boasts a creamy and smooth texture
- Versatile for both hot and cold brewing methods
- Excellent customer service
- Choice of whole bean or coarsely ground options
Cons
- Cold brew roast might be slightly lighter than expected
- Potential for stale coffee upon delivery
Stone Street Guatemala Antigua Gourmet Coffee: Runner-Up
The Stone Street Guatemala Antigua Gourmet Coffee is a dark roast gem crafted from 100% Arabica beans nurtured in Guatemala’s lofty highlands.
Cultivated in volcanic soil at high altitudes, this coffee boasts a distinct flavor and aroma that’s truly one-of-a-kind.
Choose between whole bean or pre-ground options, both elegantly packaged in 1 lb bags.
Revel in its smoky aroma and delightful floral aftertaste.
With a smooth, medium-bodied consistency, this coffee offers a consistently satisfying cup.
Stone Street Coffee, hailing from the heart of Brooklyn, NYC, has been perfecting the art of roasting since 2009.
Roasted in modest batches, this approach ensures uniform roasting and intensifies the flavors.
Pros
- Distinct flavor from high-altitude cultivation
- Dark roast offers a rich, bold taste
- Available in both whole bean and ground options
- Smoky aroma with a pleasant floral aftertaste
- Smooth and medium-bodied texture
- Small-batch roasting enhances the flavor
Cons
Peace Coffee Guatemala Whole Bean Dark Roast
Introducing the Peace Coffee Guatemala Whole Bean Dark Roast, a cherished choice among customers for its velvety, indulgent, and chocolaty allure.
This dark roast organic coffee, cultivated under the canopy, holds the values of fair trade.
The Manos Campesinas cooperative, an assembly of over 300 indigenous Maya-Quiche coffee farming families, nurtures these beans.
With dedicated care, the Guaya’b Cooperative hand-selects each ripe fruit and then processes the organic, fair-trade coffee in small batches on their farms.
In each whole bean dark roast, expect a harmony of bittersweet chocolate and cherry flavors.
Notably, subtle anise notes enhance its inherent sweetness, akin to licorice.
Yet, while these pronounced flavors enchant, the coffee’s impact might miss the mark compared to its vibrant profile.
Multiple size and form options are available, including a 20 oz whole bean dark roast, a 5 lb ground dark roast, and a 12 oz whole bean dark roast.
Pros
- Customer-favorite, offering a smooth and rich experience
- Dark roast with organic and fair trade credentials
- Shade-grown beans from the Manos Campesinas cooperative
- Handpicked and small-batch processed for quality
- Bittersweet chocolate and cherry flavors
- Delicate anise notes add natural sweetness
Cons
- Flavor might lack the expected intensity
- Some people might find the taste to be overly bitter
Fresh Roasted Coffee Guatemalan Huehuetenango
The Fresh Roasted Coffee Guatemalan Huehuetenango is a medium roast renowned for its smooth, well-balanced character.
With its velvety texture, this coffee delivers a delightful journey.
A sweet cherry essence intertwines with chocolate undertones, gradually culminating in a baked spice finish complemented by a moderate acidity.
Notably, this coffee stands out for its production standard, a practice that’s becoming rarer in today’s coffee landscape as technology advances.
Following the European Preparation standard, the beans undergo meticulous hand-sorting until there are no more than 8 defects per 300 grams of unroasted coffee.
This dedication paves the way for the remarkable, harmonious flavor profile the region is celebrated for.
Behind this exceptional coffee lies a cooperative committed to fostering sustainable agricultural practices and organic farming techniques.
By nurturing these methods, the coop not only preserves but elevates the inherent flavors of this already remarkable coffee.
Pros
- Praised for balanced flavor and smooth body
- Sweet cherry flavor with chocolate notes
- Baked spice finish with medium acidity
- European Preparation standard for superior quality
- Hand-sorted beans for exceptional flavor profile
- Preserves and enhances the coffee’s unique flavors
Cons
- Dark roast tastes slightly bitter
- Some users complain that the coffee tastes flat and flavorless
Cubico Guatemala Antigua Whole Bean Coffee
The exquisite Cubico Guatemala Antigua Whole Bean Coffee is another single-origin delight cultivated in Guatemala’s revered Antigua region.
Grown at elevated altitudes amidst lush volcanic soil and dense foliage, this coffee boasts exceptional richness and quality.
Dedicated farmers meticulously nurture their beans, employing optimal methods and rigorous inspections to ensure top-notch results.
Indulge in the accolades bestowed upon this coffee for its luxurious flavor and superb quality.
It embodies a medium-bodied, vibrant, and tangy profile, adorned with subtle hints of lemon and orange, and underscored by milk chocolate undertones.
The choice is yours—select from whole bean or ground options, each available in 12 or 16-ounce bags, tailor-made for your preference.
Pros
- Grown at high altitudes in fertile volcanic soil and lush vegetation
- Rich flavor and high-quality
- Beans freshly roasted in small batches
- Roasting date signed for freshness verification
- Offers a full-bodied, velvety taste with a gentle aftertaste
- Boasts a zesty, vibrant, and opulent flavor profile
Cons:
- Some customers noted a bitter taste in the coffee
- Might exhibit a cardboard-like taste to certain palates
Is Guatemalan coffee the best in the world?
Determining whether Guatemalan coffee reigns as the best globally doesn’t come with a definite answer.
While Guatemalan coffee stands out for its uniquely balanced acidity and fruity notes, it’s part of a broader spectrum of exceptional coffee beans found worldwide.
Countries like Brazil, Colombia, Ethiopia, Kenya, Panama, and Tanzania are also celebrated for their coffee prowess.
In the end, what constitutes the finest coffee hinges on individual taste preferences—a subjective journey.
How good is Guatemala coffee?
Guatemalan coffee is a sought-after gem acclaimed for its intricate flavor range and unparalleled quality.
Depending on where it’s grown, you’ll encounter delightful floral and citrus scents alongside chocolate, sweetness, fruity notes, hints of wine, or nuttiness.
The coffee’s elevated locations, diverse climate, and various plant varieties contribute to its reputation for fruity, floral, and sweet profiles, crowned by an unmistakable aroma recognizable even if you’re not a coffee expert.
In general, Guatemalan coffee treats your palate to a rich, medium to full-bodied experience.
Its aroma leans towards fruity rather than overly acidic.
Within the Guatemalan grading system, you’ll find the distinction of Strictly Hard Bean (SHB) for coffee cultivated above 4,500 feet above sea level and Hard Bean (HB) for coffee grown between 4,000 and 4,500 feet above sea level.
Is Guatemala coffee Arabica or Robusta?
In Guatemala, the majority of coffee cultivated is of the Arabica variety.
The country nurtures six main types of Arabica coffee beans: Typica, Caturra, Bourbon, Catuai, Pache, and Maragogipe.
Although there’s a minor presence of Robusta coffee in Guatemala, it doesn’t play a substantial role in the nation’s coffee output.
What makes Guatemalan coffee different?
Guatemalan coffee shines with its unique taste, top-notch quality, and the array of Arabica beans cultivated within its borders.
The magic happens due to the favorable conditions for growth, rigorous grading rules, and the diverse coffee-growing regions across the country.
The Most Popular Growing Region For Guatemalan Coffee
In Guatemala, the art of crafting high-quality coffee thrives across diverse regions, each boasting unique soil, rainfall, humidity, altitude, and temperature.
This vibrant tapestry gives rise to seven distinct types of Arabica coffee.
Antigua, nestled between Fuego, Acatenango, and Agua volcanoes, is perhaps the most renowned coffee-growing hub in Guatemala.
Here, the soil benefits from volcanic ash, offering mineral-rich nourishment and moisture retention despite the area’s modest rainfall.
At elevations of 1500-1800 meters above sea level, coffee flourishes from December to April, bearing delicious notes of chocolate, caramel, and citrus.
Guatemala’s coffee tapestry extends further, including Nuevo Oriente, Acatenango Valley, Traditional Atitlan, Rainforest Coban, Fraijanes Plateau, Highland Huehue, and Volcanic San, each contributing to the nation’s flavorful and diverse coffee offerings.
The Best Ways To Brew Guatemalan Coffee
Enjoying Guatemalan coffee can be a delightful journey with various brewing methods.
For the best results, consider options like pour-over, French press, cold brew, and drip bag coffee.
If you’re keen on savoring the coffee’s acidity and nuanced notes, the pour-over technique is a top choice.
For those who relish a robust cup, the French press is your ally.
Cold brew, a beloved method, can wonderfully tease out the coffee’s unique flavors, while drip bag coffee provides an easy solution for single servings.
Remember, the ideal brewing method ultimately hinges on personal preference and the specific coffee at hand.
Buyer’s Guide: Choosing the Best Guatemalan Coffee Beans
When embarking on the journey to find the best Guatemalan coffee beans, several key factors should guide your selection process.
Each aspect contributes to the nuanced flavors and quality that Guatemalan coffee is known for.
Here’s a comprehensive breakdown to help you make an informed decision:
Single-Origin vs. Blend
One of the first decisions to make is whether you prefer single-origin or blended Guatemalan coffee beans.
Single-origin beans are sourced from a specific region, allowing you to experience the unique flavors and characteristics of that area.
On the other hand, blends combine beans from different regions, aiming to create a balanced and consistent flavor profile.
Growing Region and Altitude
Guatemalan coffee is grown in various regions, each offering distinct flavors due to differences in soil, climate, and altitude.
For instance, beans from Antigua are known for their rich and balanced flavors, while beans from Huehuetenango often exhibit bright acidity.
Consider your taste preferences and explore beans from different regions to find your favorite.
Bean Variety
Guatemalan coffee boasts several Arabica bean varieties, including Typica, Caturra, Bourbon, Catuai, Pache, and Maragogipe.
Each variety contributes unique flavors and characteristics to the coffee.
Understanding the nuances of these varieties can help you select beans that align with your flavor preferences.
Roast Level
Guatemalan coffee is available in various roast levels, ranging from light to dark.
Light roasts tend to preserve the bean’s natural flavors and acidity, while dark roasts offer a more robust and intense profile.
Choose a roast level that complements your taste preferences, whether you prefer the brightness of a light roast or the richness of a dark roast.
Flavor Profile
Guatemalan coffee is celebrated for its intricate flavor profiles, which can include notes of chocolate, caramel, citrus, nuts, and more.
Take note of the flavor descriptors provided by the roaster, as they can give you insights into what to expect from the coffee.
Consider whether you prefer a coffee with fruity acidity, chocolatey undertones, or a balance of both.
Freshness
Opting for freshly roasted beans is crucial for capturing the full range of flavors in Guatemalan coffee.
Check for the roasting date on the packaging, and aim to purchase beans that have been roasted within the past few weeks.
Fresher beans will offer a more vibrant and aromatic cup of coffee.
Fair Trade and Organic Certification
Many coffee producers in Guatemala prioritize sustainable and ethical practices.
Look for beans that are certified as Fair Trade and/or organic, which ensures that the coffee has been sourced responsibly and without harmful chemicals.
Packaging and Size
Consider the packaging options and sizes that best suit your consumption habits.
Whole bean coffee retains its freshness longer, but if you don’t have a grinder, look for options with coarsely ground beans.
Additionally, choose a package size that aligns with your brewing frequency to ensure you always have fresh coffee on hand.
Verdict: The Finest Guatemalan Coffee Beans
Navigating the world of Guatemalan coffee led us to these standout choices.
Our selection of the 6 Best Guatemalan Coffee Brands highlights exceptional flavors and quality that captivate the senses.
From the Volcanica Guatemala Antigua Whole Bean Reserve, hailed for its smooth sophistication, to the Cooper’s Cask Guatemalan Organic Cold Brew Coffee, celebrated for its sustainable excellence, each pick offers a unique journey through Guatemalan coffee’s diverse and rich tapestry.
Whether you seek a classic brew or an innovative cold option, these top picks deliver the essence of Guatemala’s coffee prowess straight to your cup.
