Guatemala - Side B - Single Origin Filter

This coffee from El Calagual Farm is as special as the story behind it! Grown on a tiny 4.5-hectare farm nestled in the Santa Rosa region of Guatemala, this micro-lot is owned by Darwin Estuardo Fabián Estrada, a fifth-generation coffee farmer. With rich volcanic soil, high altitudes of 1,550 to 1,800 meters, and a unique microclimate, El Calagual is a small but mighty farm producing extraordinary coffee. The Pache variety Darwin grows has a sweet, juicy flavor with notes of stewed tropical fruits, fresh coconut, and rich cacao nibs with a soft winey acidity.

Darwin’s passion for coffee goes back generations, but it was his agronomy studies that opened his eyes to the farm’s true potential. He convinced his father to let him experiment with processing methods as part of his thesis, and the results were spectacular. Since then, Darwin has been on a mission to elevate his family’s coffee quality. His meticulous approach includes natural processing, which happens across a few stages to ensure the highest cup quality possible. The first stage is the picking, when the team at Calagual only picks coffee at 25-26° Brix (a unit of measurement that represents the amount of sugar in a liquid solution or coffee cherry juice). The second stage of the processing is 36 hours of aerobic fermentation in cherry form. This is done using permeable nylon sacks in a cool and dry location, keeping the coffee stable by matching its internal temperature with that of the surrounding environment. The third stage is the laying of the cherries on raised drying beds for 24 days, turning them by hand, separating any unripe or damaged fruit, until the optimum moisture levels are achieved.

Darwin’s long-term goal for El Calagual is to set it up to withstand the effects of climate change, something the region is already experiencing. As a child, Darwin remembers seeing his father selling truckloads of fresh cherry for processing — this stands in stark contrast to the reality of today, where yields are much lower. When his father first took over the farm, the climate was much colder, to the point that shade trees were considered harmful because they affected the amount of cherries trees could yield. Today, shade trees are critical to operations, as they help protect trees from the intense sun of Santa Rosa, and the lack of water affecting the area. In the face of these challenges, Darwin remains positive: “We can’t spend all of our time complaining. Things won’t always be bad, and even if they are, we’ll always find a way to solve them,” he explained. Despite the challenges of climate change, Darwin remains infectiously optimistic. His vision is to keep improving the quality of his coffee while expanding his farm and experimenting with rare varieties. With a flavor-packed profile and a story of dedication and resilience, El Calagual isn’t just a coffee; it’s a labor of love, passed down through generations.

This coffee is sourced through Melbourne Coffee Merchants, who lead the way in traceability and are committed to fostering meaningful relationships with the farmers and producers behind your cup. They pay premiums for exceptional coffees and sustainability, regardless of what the C market is doing, and on top of participating in various community projects at origin and in Australia, they also donate to World Coffee Research with every kilo sold and provide data to the Specialty Coffee Transaction Guide.

Please note 1kg refills are not available for delivery - we will contact you to arrange collection.