About Antigua, Guatemala

Antigua (Antigua Valley) is the oldest and best-known coffee producing area in Guatemala. Volcanoes and extremely shallow groundwater levels form a dry microclimate, characterized by low humidity, adequate sunshine and cool nights.

Antigua is a closed valley surrounded by three volcanoes: Agua, Acatenango and Fuego. Antigua is flat and slightly sloping, unlike other coffee producers located in volcanic areas.

Most coffee trees are planted in the hinterland of the valley, but even so, they have reached an altitude of 5000 feet; in addition, some farmers grow coffee on the slopes of volcanoes, nearly 5600 feet above sea level.

The extremely high content of pumice (pumice) in the soil of Antigua (from the active Fuaigo volcano Fuego) keeps the humidity stable at 65% all the year round, which is very different from other volcanic coffee producing areas, where the humidity usually varies greatly between the dry and wet seasons.

Fertile volcanic soil, low humidity, plenty of sunshine and cool nights all make Antigua unique.

The three majestic volcanoes Agua, Acatenango and Fuego surround the Antigua Valley. Every once in a while, Fuego, one of Guatemala's three active volcanoes, adds fresh, mineral-rich ash to the soil of Antigua. The volcanic pumice in the soil can keep the soil moist, greatly making up for the lack of precipitation in Antigua, which is the least rainy of the eight coffee-producing regions in Guatemala.

Like all Guatemalan boutique coffee, Antigua coffee is grown in shade. In Antigua, shade is mainly used to protect coffee trees from frost, which is cold and sometimes frosty from December to February every year. Dense shade and extremely shallow aquifers work together to create a unique micro-climate for the coffee trees living in it.

Cup reviews of Antigua coffee:

Aroma 7.8; flavor 7.85; acidity 7.95; balance 7.63; overall 7.78; alcohol 7.85; aftertaste 7.60

Delicate, well-balanced, with rich aromas and excellent sweetness.

Elegant, well balanced with a rich aroma and a very sweet taste.

Image above: Antigua with a long history