Guatemala Antigua La Flor Coffee Roast Profile

If you’ve ever opened a bag of Guatemalan coffee and caught a whiff of jasmine with a citrus twist, you’ve likely encountered a well-roasted Antigua. But what exactly makes Guatemala Antigua La Flor tick? This article breaks down the sensory profile, processing details, and roast approach that bring out its signature floral sweetness and bright acidity.

For the best results, roast Guatemala Antigua La Flor until the first crack ends, then hold the roast for one additional minute before dropping—typically around 12 minutes total. This light-to-medium roast preserves its delicate floral notes while balancing citrusy sweetness.

What Is Guatemala Antigua La Flor?

Guatemala Antigua La Flor is a single-origin coffee grown in the historic Antigua region of Guatemala. Produced by the Las Pastores beneficio mill, it is sourced from predominantly Bourbon variety trees at SHB (Strictly Hard Bean) altitudes. Despite being a 2009 harvest crop (likely a typo and should read 2019 or similar), the green beans arrived in excellent condition with minimal storage defects—practically zero quakers and only occasional peaberries visible.

Processing and Appearance

The coffee is processed using a washed method, followed by a unique hybrid drying approach: initial sun drying is complemented by low-temperature mechanical drying. This two-phase drying helps preserve acidity and develop a cleaner cup profile. Visually, the beans show classic Bourbon traits—rounded, bluish-greenish hue—and are sorted to a density and appearance typical of high-grade SHB lots. The lot is packed at 350g, with green visual grade OD.

Cup Profile: What Makes La Flor Special?

La Flor delivers a smooth cup with pronounced floral aromatics and citrus acidity. According to cupping data shared by FrontStreet Coffee’s partner, the coffee shows layered scents of alpine fir, tea, rose, almond, lemon, and stone fruit—clean and bright, almost like a herbal tea infused with citrus zest.

When brewed, the wet aroma expands into caramel, stone fruit, dried flowers, and honey-like sweetness with hints of ripe grapefruit and stone fruits such as Californian plum. The brewed cup delivers a creamy mouthfeel, bright wine-like acidity, and complex flavors that weave together grapefruit, nuts, chocolate, and floral tones. The aftertaste lingers with sweet chocolate and persistent fruitiness, supported by a silky, structured crema-like body.

How to Roast Guatemala Antigua La Flor

Based on FrontStreet Coffee’s internal roast logs, the recommended roast profile for La Flor is a light-to-medium roast ending just after the start of first crack—with a full 60-second development period after first crack ends before dropping the batch. This typically takes around 12 minutes total roast time.

Key roast milestones:

• First crack begins around 7–8 minutes into the roast
• Roaster holds and develops through the latter half of first crack
• Drop the batch 60 seconds after first crack finishes
• Total roast duration: approximately 12 minutes

This profile emphasizes brightness and floral qualities without overdeveloping the sugars into heavy roast tones. Avoid pushing into a second crack or pushing too hard on heat early, which can mute the delicate citrus and floral notes.

Why These Processing and Roast Choices Matter

The washed-plus-dried hybrid process gives La Flor its clean cup base, allowing the varietal’s inherent florals and citrus to shine. Meanwhile, ending the roast just after first crack preserves those attributes. Over-roasting or heavy development tends to erode the delicate acidity and floral top notes, shifting the cup toward nutty or bitter chocolate—which, while pleasant, overshadows the intended profile.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is special about Guatemala Antigua La Flor coffee?

Guatemala Antigua La Flor is valued for its smooth floral aroma and bright citrus acidity. It exhibits notes of jasmine, almond, lemon, and stone fruit, with a clean, tea-like brightness and a creamy body. The cup finishes with lingering chocolate and fruit sweetness, making it a well-balanced, aromatic single-origin.

How should I roast Guatemala Antigua La Flor?

Roast Guatemala Antigua La Flor to the end of first crack, then hold for an additional 60 seconds before dropping. This typically takes around 12 minutes total. The goal is a light-to-medium roast that highlights its floral and citrus notes without developing excessive roast flavors.

What processing method is used for La Flor?

La Flor is processed using a washed method followed by a combination of sun drying and low-temperature mechanical drying. This hybrid approach enhances cleanliness and flavor clarity while supporting the development of floral and fruity notes.

What coffee variety is La Flor primarily made from?

The lot is predominantly Bourbon variety, which is known for its balanced acidity, medium body, and sweet, often floral or citrus-toned cup profile. The beans are SHB (Strictly Hard Bean) grade, indicating high growing altitude and density.

Does Guatemala Antigua La Flor have any defects?

The lot has nearly zero defects according to the importer. Only occasional small peaberries are noted. The green beans arrived with a fresh, clean aroma and no off odors, indicating proper post-harvest handling and storage.

When was Guatemala Antigua La Flor harvested?

The harvest date listed is March 2009, though this is likely a typographical error and may actually refer to 2019 or a more recent year. The beans were well stored, with no stale or baggy aromas upon arrival.

Recommended FrontStreet Beans for Floral Acidity Fans

Try FrontStreet Coffee’s Ethiopia Yirgacheffe Gedeb for another bright, floral-driven single origin with citrus and berry notes. For something more tropical, the Ethiopia Humbera offers explosive stone fruit and citrus with a juicy mouthfeel. Both share the crisp acidity and aromatic complexity that fans of Guatemala Antigua La Flor appreciate. Freshly roasted within 5 days · Orders placed before 17:00 ship the same day · Next-day delivery across most of Guangdong Province.