Coffee is a beloved beverage enjoyed by millions around the world and undergoes a remarkable journey before it reaches your cup. From the lush coffee farms nestled in the highlands of Guatemala to the speciality coffee roasting and brewing processes, each step contributes to the unique flavours and aromas that single-origin coffee enthusiasts love.
In this article, we'll explore the intricate journey of our speciality coffee beans, focusing on a variety known as Guatemalan Red De Mujeres, which is celebrated for its quality and is widely rated alongside the best coffee in central America.
Nurturing the Coffee Plant
The journey begins on the slopes of Guatemala, where the Guatemalan Red De Mujeres variety thrives under the watchful eye of skilled coffee farmers. These farms are run by a large group of female coffee producers covering five different parts of Huehuetenango. They are situated at altitudes ideal for coffee cultivation, where the combination of rich volcanic soil, cool temperatures, and rainfall creates optimal conditions for these special coffee plants to flourish.
Coffee plants typically take several years to mature and start producing fruit, which are known as cherries. Farmers meticulously prune, fertilise, and protect the plants from pests and diseases to ensure healthy growth. The Guatemalan Red De Mujeres variety is known for its distinct flavour profile, characterised by notes of almond, toffee, and raspberry.
Selecting and Harvesting the Ripest Cherries
The harvesting of coffee cherries is a labour-intensive process that requires careful timing. Experienced pickers, often local community members, hand-select only the ripest cherries, as the quality of the coffee greatly depends on the maturity of the fruit. In Guatemala, where the harvest typically occurs between November and April, the vibrant red cherries of the Guatemalan Red De Mujeres variety signal readiness for picking.
Harvesting is usually done in multiple passes through the coffee fields to ensure that only fully ripe cherries are collected. This selective picking ensures that each cherry contributes to the flavour and aroma that are associated with speciality coffees like Guatemalan Red De Mujeres.
Processing The Coffee Cherry
Once harvested, these special coffee cherries undergo processing to extract the seeds, or beans, within. There are two primary methods of processing: the washed (wet) method and the natural (dry) method. The choice of method often depends on local tradition, climate conditions, and preferred flavour profile.
The washed method is used by the women who harvest Guatemalan Red De Mujeres and involves the cherries being pulped to remove the outer fruit layer, leaving behind the parchment-covered beans. These coffee beans are then fermented in water to break down any remaining fruit before being thoroughly washed and dried. This process results in clean, bright flavours that highlight the coffee's unique notes.
Milling and Preparing for Export
After drying, these special coffee beans are hulled to remove the parchment layer and sorted by size and weight. This meticulous sorting ensures consistency and quality in every batch of Guatemalan Red De Mujeres coffee. Once sorted, the green coffee beans are ready for export to coffee roasters around the globe.
Guatemala plays a vital role in the global coffee market. The Guatemalan Red De Mujeres variety, with its distinctive flavour profile and commitment to sustainable farming practices, has received a lot of recognition among coffee aficionados for its exceptional quality.
Roasting The Green Beans
Upon reaching the York Emporium roastery, the green coffee beans are roasted in small batches. This step unlocks the beans' flavours and aromas and is done under the careful watch of our team of speciality coffee roasters. The roasting process is both an art and a science, where precise temperatures and timings are key to developing the desired flavour profile.
For Guatemalan Red De Mujeres, a medium roast is often preferred as it better preserves its delicate flavours and acidity. As the beans roast, they undergo chemical changes that release oils and develop complex flavours, which result in a very distinctive taste.
Brewing the Perfect Cup
The final part of the coffee bean's journey takes place at home and in cafés and coffee shops worldwide. Brewing single-origin coffee comes in many shapes and forms, each aiming to extract the perfect balance of flavours from the roasted beans. Methods such as pour-over, espresso, French press, and drip brewing allow coffee lovers to find the right method for their palate.
Appreciating The Craftsmanship of Speciality Coffee
The journey of a coffee bean, as shown by the Guatemalan Red De Mujeres variety, is proof of the dedication and expertise of everyone involved in its production. From the lush coffee farms of Guatemala to our roastery in York, each step in the process contributes to this special final product. If you’d like to buy, what we believe to be, the best coffee in central America, please explore the York Emporium website.
