The “Land of the Eternal Spring” has all the optimum conditions to produce exquisite washed Arabica coffees - mountain ranges, diverse geography and steady rainfall. This Guatemala Concepción Huista is a prime example of what Guatemalan coffees can be, a sublime mix of clean, sweet and chocolaty flavors with juicy acidity. Coffee is one of Guatemala’s most important exports and is one of the most popular coffee origins - it’s an ever present component of our Gusto Crema Blend. Guatemala has devised a unique grading system based on altitude, formed around the belief that a higher elevation produces a harder,...

Nicaragua is making a bold comeback in the coffee industry - after the devastation of Civil War and Hurricane Mitch in 1998, coffees from this region have been dominating Cup of Excellence competitions. In 2018, the top 5 winning coffees were produced in Nueva Segovia. The lush Nueva Segovia region boasts near perfect growing conditions - shade, fertile volcanic soil, high elevations, and organized producers who pay careful attention to cultivation and processing. In fact, most coffee in Nicaragua is shade grown. Most of the coffee from this region is produced by small family farms averaging just three hectares (about...

Let's brew the Ethiopia Gelana Abaya with the Kalita Wave

Ethiopia is universally recognized as the birthplace of coffee, and produces some of the most complex and exciting coffees in the world. This coffee from the neighboring woredas (districts) of Gelana and Abaya is no exception, highlighting the unique character and diversity of flavors found in Ethiopia’s micro-regions. Produced by small-holder farmers, the Gelena Abaya is washed, like most coffees produced in the southern zones where water is available. With few exceptions, all coffee exported from Ethiopia flows through the Ethiopia Commodity Exchange, where it is graded and traded anonymously, identified only by its region, processing method and cup quality....

This Myanmar microlot is produced by 18 farmers in the Hta Min Paung village, most of whom own less than a hectare of land. The majority of the farmers are women (there are only two men in the group), and the group uses much of its profits for the development of the village, including an ongoing project to build a monastery. The community’s five pagodas stand prominently overlooking the drying beds. This community cultivates its coffee under a broad canopy of mixed trees in an ideal climate of hot days and cool nights. The extremely hot weather during the December...