100% Guatemala San Antonio La Paz with dark roast profile
Flavor Notes: Smoky, Sweet, Chocolate
Region: Sierra de Las Minas, Guatemala, Central America
Growing Elevation: 1,200 - 1,400 MASL
Producer: San Antonio La Paz smallholding farmers regional blend
Variety: Caturra, Bourbon, Castillo, San Ramon
Process: Washed
We are proud to present a dark roast for the coffee lover who prefers a little cream and sugar to round out their cup of coffee, a perfect way to ease into the morning.
This San Antonio La Paz coffee is a regional blend from the El Progreso department of Guatemala. This coffee is grown among the Sierra de Las Minas mountain range, the largest mountain range in eastern Guatemala. It is located between the valleys of the Polochic and Motagua rivers and cuts through the departments of Alta Verapaz, Baja Verapaz, El Progreso, Izabal, and Zacapa. Due to the different elevations and microclimates created by the mountain range, this is a region with diverse habitats. In 1990 it was declared a biosphere reserve as it is home to many native plants and animals. In addition, the area is a hotspot for jade mining, giving the mountain range its name, which translates to “the mountain of the mines”. The Sierra de Las Minas is composed of desert, pine forest, and Guatemala’s largest cloud forest, which is home to the national bird of Guatemala, the quetzal. The iconic microclimates created by this biodiverse mountain range create a coffee unique from any other coffee region in Guatemala.
Agriculture is the main economy in San Antonio La Paz. The majority of the residents work in the cultivations of: coffee, corn, beans, tomatoes, and sugar cane. They also specialize in sculpting and selling jade. More than half of the population of San Antonio La Paz live in surrounding rural farming areas. The LVC (Los Volcanes Coffee) San Antonio La Paz regional blend comes from 225 smallholding farmers located around this municipality.
The largest obstacles facing these communities is a lack of infrastructure in the form of roads and waste management. The curvy dirt roads are often rendered useless during the rainy season, making transportation nearly impossible. The small municipality now has doctors offices and pharmacies, marking the humanitarian development in this region. In a 2013 report, the literacy rate of this region was at 89%, which is a great indicator of educational development.
This important Guatemalan coffee farming region is not recognized by ANACAFÉ, the National Coffee Association, making it a unique and relatively new traceable blend to add to Guatemala’s repertoire of exceptional specialty coffees. The small farmers that contribute to the LVC San Antonio La Paz blend gather at their local collection sight every evening to weigh their daily harvest to be transported, processed and dried at Beneficio La Esperanza. Through the LVC processing, drying and lab analysis, LVC are able to build exceptional lots that highlight the delightful qualities of this distinctive region.
