Guatemalan FTO Huehuetenango – Cafe De Mujer (Women Producers)

Description

Unless you are going to parachute into Santa Cruz Barillas, you should plan for one of the longest coffee treks of your life. While many are familiar with Huehuetenango and the reputation of the coffee region, few have ventured to this isolated corner of Guatemala. The spectacularly rugged terrain has served to preserve the indigenous heritage, distinct clothing, and dialects that can vary from one mountain ridge to the next. In this cultural oasis, ASOBAGRI (who produces Cafe De Mujer) has become an important bridge to the international coffee community. This cooperative is simply one of the most sophisticated and well organized in the world with more than 1,400 members, spread across 80 communities, who cultivate and harvest their own coffee on small farms with their own micro-mills.

Promoting gender equality throughout the organization has been a shining success at ASOBAGRI. This particular lot called Cafe De Mujer is the culmination of an integrated program for 182 female members of ASOBAGRI. The program includes 5 women technicians providing training and technical support that is appropriately tailored to the needs of the members.

Strategies like using coffee pulp to make organic fertilizers reduces the transportation costs associated with purchasing fertilizer from afar, and at the same time, creates an abundant source of plant nutrition that ensures better yields and quality. Income diversification investments in chicken farms, avocado trees and local cafeteria have also strengthened the options for women members.

Tasting Notes: Clean, rich and semi-sweet, the cup is medium bodied with a little winy/floral acidity upfront. Hints of a fruitiness with “before 2nd crack” roast levels. The crisper, brighter tones commingle with a semi-sweet very malt like dark tone. We thought best served in the medium roast ballpark, it will handle lighter or darker roasts nicely though. Light roasts will be a bit front loaded with brightness, turns the winy factor a bit more lemony and the malty tones a bit dryer, a sweeter edge to it. Darker roasts promote the bittersweet malt tones, heftier cup with a smoky edge.  Great balance right in the middle.

Roasting Notes: Roasts a little two toned, lighter roasts you may need to flick a bean or two if looking for an exceptionally clean cup. Medium to dark were very easy roast points to hit with no flicking required! Gets a little sheen on the surface pushing into the medium roast ballpark. Medium to low chaff.