Relampago — Guatemala / Washed Process

Origin

This coffee comes to us through Los Volcanes, our exporting partner for Brazil and Guatemala. Relampago is perched on Volcan de Agua, overlooking the historic city of Antigua. The area is perfect for coffee growing thanks to its high elevation, giving it a stable and cool mountain climate, as well as its rich volcanic soil. Relampago can be found slightly further up the mountain from the various farms that make up the Proyecto Aurora lot that we are roasting for the third year in a row.

Project

Relampago is owned and operated by Los Volcanes, having acquired it from longtime friend and collaborator Don Rafael. Josue Morales, Los Volcanes’ founder, acquired the farm in order to use it in much the same way they use their demo farm at Beneficio La Esperanza, only situated in a much better location for coffee growing. Relampago is used for research into new varietals, innovation in farming techniques, and the implementation of regenerative farming. As with all of Los Volcanes’ work, their findings are made available to their producer partners, in order to achieve the goal of elevating the level of coffee quality and sustainability throughout the region.

Coffee

We had the chance to cup this coffee in Guatemala, hosted by Los Volcanes at their washing station Beneficio la Esperanza. Relampago immediately stood out thanks to its complex sweetness and lingering texture. Hibiscus and jasmine florals accompany notes of raspberry, strawberry and white chocolate. This coffee is a mix of both the comforting cup profile we’ve come to expect from Guatemala, along with a novel complexity that shows the potential of the country’s coffee.