Guatemala Single Origin: Finca Entre Rios Organic

When you’re hunting for a single-origin coffee that balances fruitiness, acidity, and smooth body without sacrificing clarity, Guatemala often rises to the top. But not all Guatemalan coffees are created equal—region, altitude, and processing make huge differences. So which ones deliver the juicy brightness and structural finesse that specialty drinkers crave? Let’s look at one standout example from the heart of the country’s coffee-growing zone.

If you want a Guatemalan coffee with vibrant citrus, floral lift, and a cocoa-kissed finish, Finca Entre Rios Organic is a top pick. Grown at 1,430–1,645 metres above sea level using a fully washed process, this SHG-grade organic coffee delivers consistent fruit, chocolate, and acidity in the cup—with a cupping score balancing aroma, acidity, sweetness, and aftertaste at 4s and 3s across the board.

Guatemala’s Place in Specialty Coffee

Guatemala ranks as Central America’s second-most populous country and its second-largest coffee producer. Despite decades of political instability, it remains a powerhouse of high-quality specialty coffee. Over half of its land area—under 110,000 square kilometres—is suitable for coffee farming. Coffee, sugar, and bananas are the country’s top three exports, and the industry employs around 12% of the population. Most production is concentrated in the central and southern regions, with well-known origins including San Marcos, Huehuetenango, Antigua, Cobán, and Atitlán.

The country’s unique terroir plays a massive role. The combination of year-round warmth, frequent rainfall, high altitudes over 1,000 metres in the Andean foothills, and fertile volcanic soils gives Guatemalan coffees their signature bright acidity, rich mouthfeel, and complex aromatics. In recent years, the Cup of Excellence competition and the growth of smallholder cooperatives have further elevated quality, with many farms continuing to preserve classic Bourbon and Typica varieties while also making strides in organic farming practices.

Finca Entre Rios Organic: Farm Profile

Finca Entre Rios is a small, 18-hectare farm located in the Sierra de las Minas protected area, northeast of Guatemala City, in the municipality of San Agustín Acasaguastlán, El Progreso department. The farm shares its land area equally between coffee cultivation and forest conservation, producing around 300 bags of coffee annually. It takes its name from two crystal-clear rivers originating from the upper highlands of the farm—waters used in the washed processing of the coffee.

The farm lies at elevations between 1,430 and 1,645 metres, with an average annual temperature ranging from 16°C to 28°C. Owner Senora Anneliese Wintzer runs the operation with a strong commitment to ecological balance and biodiversity. The farm is home to a near-extinct aromatic tree species, some specimens of which are over 300 years old. The surrounding “cloud forest” microclimate supports rare flora and fauna, and for over a decade, Wintzer has focused on preserving habitats for wildlife in this unique environment. The farm holds Organic UK4 certification and uses no chemical additives in its production.

Tasting Notes and Cup Profile

This fully washed, organic coffee showcases the clarity and complexity typical of high-altitude Guatemalan lots. The cup opens with lively floral and citrus aromas, leading into a fruity and chocolatey profile on the palate. Tasters note pronounced notes of blueberry alongside broader fruitiness, complemented by smooth milk chocolate tones. The acidity is bright yet refined, contributing to a sweet, lingering aftertaste with refreshing citrus and subtle vanilla-caramel sweetness.

Cupping data from September 2009 recorded the following attributes on a standard scale (where 1 is poor and 5 is excellent): aroma (4), acidity (3), bitterness (3), sweetness (4), balance (4), body (3), aftertaste (3), and overall impression (4). Reviewers described the cup as silky like milk chocolate, with vibrant acidity and a finish that carries through with juicy fruit and sweet notes of vanilla and caramel. The coffee’s profile leans toward a smooth, syrupy mouthfeel with a distinct caramel-like sweetness—a hallmark of well-processed SHG coffees grown in cool, high-altitude microclimates.

Processing and Certification Details

Finca Entre Rios processes its coffee using a traditional fully washed method. This involves carefully depulping the cherries, fermenting to remove mucilage, and washing with clean water from the farm’s own mountain-fed streams. The beans are then dried under controlled conditions. The farm’s commitment to sustainability is underscored by its Organic UK4 certification, ensuring no synthetic chemicals are used in cultivation or processing. This approach not only protects the surrounding cloud forest ecosystem but also results in a clean, untainted cup profile prized by specialty roasters and consumers alike.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Finca Entre Rios Organic?

Finca Entre Rios Organic is a high-altitude, single-origin coffee grown at 1,430–1,645 metres in the Sierra de las Minas region of Guatemala. It is produced by a small farm using a fully washed process and certified organic under the UK4 standard, with no chemical inputs. The coffee is known for its floral, citrus, and blueberry notes alongside smooth chocolate and caramel tones.

Where is Finca Entre Rios located?

The farm is located in the Sierra de las Minas protected area, in the municipality of San Agustín Acasaguastlán, El Progreso department, northeast of Guatemala City. It spans 18 hectares divided equally between coffee cultivation and forest conservation.

What altitude is Finca Entre Rios coffee grown at?

The coffee is cultivated between 1,430 and 1,645 metres above sea level. This high elevation contributes to the coffee’s bright acidity, dense sweetness, and complex fruit and floral notes.

How is the coffee processed?

Finca Entre Rios processes its coffee using a fully washed (wet) method. Cherries are depulped, fermented to remove mucilage, washed with clean stream water from the farm, and then dried under controlled conditions to preserve quality and clarity in the cup.

What flavours can I expect from this coffee?

Cuppers and roasters report notes of citrus, blueberry, milk chocolate, caramel, and vanilla. The acidity is bright and lively, balanced by a smooth, silky body and a refreshing, fruity aftertaste.

Is Finca Entre Rios coffee certified organic?

Yes, the coffee holds Organic UK4 certification, meaning it is grown and processed without synthetic pesticides or fertilisers, in compliance with UK organic standards. The farm also protects local biodiversity and uses water from its own protected streams for washing.

Recommended FrontStreet Beans for Washed Guatemalan Profiles

For fans of Finca Entre Rios Organic’s bright, fruit-forward Guatemalan profile, FrontStreet Coffee’s Brazil Queen Manor (Yellow Bourbon) offers a similarly elegant cup with creamy textures, peanut candy, and chocolate notes, especially well-suited to medium or darker roasts. Alternatively, Rwanda Red Bourbon highlights the vibrant acidity and floral-citrus traits common in high-grown Bourbons like those at Finca Entre Rios. Both beans showcase the clarity and complexity that make washed Guatemalan and Bourbon-origin coffees so sought after. Freshly roasted within 5 days · Orders placed before 17:00 ship the same day · Next-day delivery across most of Guangdong Province.