Guatemala La Morena - Light

Tasting Notes: Milk Chocolate, Preline, Green Apple

Region Cubulco, Baja Verapaz ; Altitude 1600-1800

Process: Washed

Cup Score: 84.5 ; 12oz

About the region: 

Baja Verapaz is one of Guatemala’s twenty-two departments. Within this central department is the municipality of Cubulco. Cubulco boasts numerous archaeological sites. The cultural heritage in Cubulco runs deep; the population, which is mainly comprised of indigenous people, continues to enjoy the customs passed down through generations. Meanwhile, paved roads to Guatemala’s capital, a tropical climate, high elevation and healthy waterways make Cubulco ideal for the cultivation of coffee.

Conscientious Coffee:

In 2016, the La Morena program to give female coffee growers access to the global supply chain and to address gender inequality in coffee farming. The program started off small; we worked with four IWCA members to import 32 boxes of green coffee beans. It was a micro-lot by all accounts, but roasters were receptive, and the small lot quickly stocked out. The growers enjoyed success from that introduction to the market and their coffees and their coffees became highly sought after.

Fast forward to 2023: our specialty coffee sourcing team in Guatemala worked with over 800 women farmers spanning the coffee-growing regions of Huehuetenango and Baja Verapaz. What started as a micro-lot of about 2,000 lbs of coffee has blossomed into a platform that strongly addresses gender inequality in coffee.